f:^ 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 


THEUBRARYOFTHE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


ENDOWED  BY  THE 

DIALECTIC  AND  PHILANTHROPIC 

SOCIET^S 


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This  book  is  due  at  the  WALTER  R.  DAVIS  LIBRARY  on 
the  last  date  stamped  under  "Date  Due."  If  not  on  hold  it 
may  be  renewed  by  bringing  it  to  the  library. 


DATE 
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form  No.  513. 


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RET. 


V 


A  Daughter  of  Cuba 

fi^         By 

Helen  M.  Boweno 


Chicago  and  New  York: 

Rand,  McNally  &  Company, 
Publishers. 


Copyright,  1896,  by  the  Merriam  Company. 
Copyright,  1898,  by  Helen  M.  Bowen. 


THAT  ONE, 

■WHOSE  COMPANIONSHIP   AND   READY   COMPREHENSION 
MAKE   BEAUTIFUL   MY    DAYS, 

THIS  BOOK 

IS 

TENDERLY  INSCRIBED. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA. 


CHAPTER   1. 


LiTHGOW  Hamilton  was  moving  up  Broadway  after  the 
fashion  of  a  New  Yorker  intent  on  his  own  affairs,  when  he 
found  himself  wheeled  about  suddenly  by  a  friendly  arm. 

"  Why,  hello,  Bertram  !"  he  exclaimed,  stopping  to  exchange 
salutations. 

"  You  are  just  the  man  I  want  to  see,"  declared  Mr.  Ber- 
tram, with  satisfaction.  "  Demmes  tells  me  that  you  are 
going  to  Cuba." 

"  Yes,"  admitted  Lithgow  Hamilton,  believing  this  to  be 
but  one  of  many  congratulations  which  he  had  received  from 
tliuse  who  were  forced  lo  remain  in  the  North  during  the  win- 
ter which  already  enveloped  the  land.  '"  Fortune  favors  me 
this  year.  Jersdan  &  Lester  are  sending  me  down  to  make 
better  Contracts  with  the  cotYee  planters.  Last  year's  produel 
was  below  grade.  By  having  a  man  in  the  island  at  this  sea- 
son they  hope  to  secure  larger  consignments  from  those 
plantations  that  have  a  reputation  for  growing  the  finest  qual- 
ities." 

"  You  always  were  a  lucky  dog,"  commented  Mr.  Bertram, 
with  pleasant  envy. 

Lithgow  Hamilton  lifted  his  brows  skeptically. 

"There  might  be  two  opinions  about  that,"  he  returned; 
"  but  I  must  confess  that  this  trip  is  exactly  to  my  liking  now. 
We  touched  at  Cuba  when  I  came  up  from  Honduras,  but  the 
island  is  quite  unfamiliar.  I  suppose  it  was  my  ability  to 
speak  the  Spanish  language  that  secured  me  this  opportunity." 

"  Shall  you  go  into  the  interior?" 

"  Certainly ;  that  I  shall  be  forced  to  do.     Not  an  enviable 


6  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

task,  if  what  I  hear  is  true.  It  is  declared,  however,  that  trav- 
elling in  Cuba  has  this  advantage  over  joumeyings  in  other 
countries,  that  one  always  can  catch  on  the  morrow  the  train 
which  should  have  gone  yesterday." 

Mr.  Bertram  viewed  through  his  pince-nez  the  stalwart  fig- 
ure in  front  of  him,  with  its  brown  hair  growing  far  back  on 
the  temples,  the  alert  gray  eyes,  between  the  brows  of  which 
was  a  thoughtful  line,  the  mouth  not  so  hidden  by  its  dark 
mustache  as  to  conceal  the  fact  that  its  under  lip  had  a  habit 
of  being  bitten  in  by  the  strong  upper  teeth. 

"Ha,  ha!"  Mr.  Bertram  laughed  amusedly,  while  he  men- 
tally was  taking  notes  as  if  to  convince  himself  that  he  had 
decided  on  the  right  man.  "  Surely  there  is  nothing  to  com- 
plain about  in  that.  Have  you  any  objections  to  undertaking 
a  little  business  for  me  down  there — on  the  side?" 

"  Legitimate  process?"  queried  Lithgow,  smiling. 

"  Did  you  ever  know  me  to  deal  in  any  other?"  demanded 
Mr.  Bertram,  drawing  a  cigar-case  from  his  pocket  and  oflfer- 
ing  its  contents  to  Lithgow. 

"Well!  You  are  a  lawyer,"  explained  Lithgow  banter- 
ingly.     "  What  is  the  scheme?" 

"  It's  no  scheme ;  it's  a  search,"  corrected  Bertram. 

"  For  what?" 

"  An  estate  in  England  is  going  begging  for  a  master.  The 
heir  is  believed  to  be  in  Cuba." 

"  Ah,  and  you  wish  me  to  poke  about  seeking  him,"  Lith- 
gow nodded  as  he  lighted  his  cigar.  "  Do  you  know  the  isl- 
and? Every  one  who  goes  there  is  placed  under  surveillance, 
especially  if  he  be  an  American.  They  suspect  you  of  every- 
thing until  you  can  prove  how  innocent  are  your  intentions; 
they  even  have  a  fashion  of  not  waiting  long  for  explanations, 
I  believe.  They  clap  you  into  jail ;  sometimes  the  only  ex- 
planation that  they  deem  necessary  is  a  rifle — with  you  at  the 
small  end  of  it !" 

"  Yes,  yes,"  assented  the  lawyer,  hastily.  "  I  know  all  that. 
That  is  exactly  why  I  thought,  when  I  heard  at  the  club  of 
your  intended  departure,  that  perhaps  you  could  do  what 
others  who  had  gone  there  for  the  same  purpose  have  found 
impossible.  Your  business  will  be  known.  You  will  be 
hampered  by  espionage  but  little.  If,  in  moving  through  the 
interior,  you  should  find  opportunities  for  gaining  information 


A    DAUGIITER    OF   CUBA.  7 

which  would  escape  other  people,  it  certainly  is  no  aflfair  of 
Spain." 

Lithgow  appeared  rather  doubtful. 

"  Let  me  know  what  I  have  to  do,  first,"  he  suggested. 
"  What  is  the  storj-?" 

"  It  is  rather  long.  Have  you  the  time  to  listen  now?  If 
so,  come  up  to  the  office." 

Lithgow  glanced  at  his  watch. 

"  I  can  spare  twenty  minutes,"  he  agreed.  "  After  I  hear 
the  kind  of  work  involved  I  can  tell  you  whether  I  will  at- 
tempt it.  I  should  not  like  to  make  a  failure  of  it;  and  of 
course  I  would.     I  never  was  cut  out  for  a  detective." 

"There  is  no  reason  why  you  should  hesitate,"  Bertram 
urged,  as  they  walked  in  the  direction  of  his  office.  "  All  that 
you  really  can  do  is  to  bear  in  mind  the  history  which  I  will 
recount  to  you.  If  anything  that  might  appear  to  have  any 
connection  with  it  should  happen  in  your  way,  I  would  wish 
you  to  follow  the  clue,  leaving  no  stone  unturned.  We  have 
a  detective  down  there  now ;  he  pursues  one  will-o'-the-wisp 
after  another,  but  achieves  no  satisfactory  results.  Searchers 
have  been  sent  from  England,  but  nothing  has  been  accom- 
plished. The  matter  of  scouring  the  States  was  placed  with 
our  firm,  thinking  that  the  child  might  have  been  brought 
here.  We  are  convinced,  however,  that  he  never  left  the 
island.  Securing  him  means  a  neat  sum  for  us,  I  can  as- 
sure you." 

Passing  through  the  outer  office,  he  ushered  Lithgow  into 
his  private  room  and  closed  the  door.  From  his  desk  he  drew 
forth  a  bundle  of  documents  and  a  small  box,  which,  when 
opened,  revealed  a  very  peculiar  ornament.  This  he  handed 
to  Lithgow  for  inspection.  It  was  a  ring,  clumsy  in  design, 
half-barbaric.     It  bore  a  stone  of  a  rich  purple  hue. 

"  This  is  only  a  copy  of  the  original,"  the  lawyer  explained. 
"  It  was  intrusted  to  us  by  the  English  solicitors.  The  origi- 
nal is  supposed  to  be  in  the  possession  of — but  I  must  tell  you 
the  story : 

"  About  thirty  years  ago,  an  English  planter  stationed  in 
Cuba  came  into  unexpected  possession,  he  being  a  fourth  son, 
of  an  estate  and  title  in  his  mother-country.  Immediately, 
he  prepared  to  sail  with  his  wife  and  infant.  For  some  rea- 
son, there  appears  to  have  been  hatred  or  jealousy  on  the 


8  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

plantation  sufficient  to  cause  one  of  the  black  women  to  ex- 
change her  baby  for  that  of  her  mistress  without  the  latter 
being  aware  of  the  deception  until  too  late  to  remedy. 

"This  half-breed,  called 'Brown  Annizae,'  had  been  the 
child's  nurse,  and  had  rebelled  fiercely  when  she  learned  that 
she  was  not  to  accompany  them,  a  young  mulattress  having 
been  chosen  in  her  place.  The  mistress,  being  fond  of  Anni- 
zae, would  have  relented,  but  the  master  peremptorily  refused 
to  allow  Annizae,  either  with  or  without  her  child,  to  leave 
the  island.  This  fact,  coming  to  Annizae's  knowledge,  fired 
her  with  such  a  desire  for  revenge  as  only  the  breast  of  a  de- 
spised or  deserted  woman  can  harbor.  While  the  preparations 
were  being  completed,  she  busied  herself  about  her  usual  du- 
ties ;  for,  in  a  capricious  humor,  the  little  heir  refused  to  per- 
mit any  one  but  his  customary  nurse  to  minister  to  him.  Ow- 
ing to  this,  she  was  allowed  to  attend  them  to  the  ship,  having 
her  own  child  with  her  as  well  as  the  one  who  seemed  to  di- 
vine that  soon  he  was  to  be  separated  from  her.  When  she 
was  rowed  back  to  land  she  bore  one  wrapped  in  her  arms, 
having  succeeded  in  crooning  both  of  them  to  sleep  before  she 
leftjthe  sailing-vessel.  To  the  delight  of  the  young  mulattress, 
the  remaining  child  continued  to  sleep  after  Annizae's  depar- 
ture. With  occasional  glances  in  his  direction,  but  with  most 
of  her  visual  faculty  devoted  to  watching  the  objects  on  shore 
disappear  from  view,  she  spent  the  time  immediately  follow- 
ing the  embarking.  It  was  not  until  it  was  hours  too  late  that 
she  discovered  that  llie  slumbering  cliild  was  Annizae's. 

"Vainly  they  implored  the  captain  to  put  back.  It  was 
impossible,  or  at  least  he  deemed  it  impossible,  for  him  to 
comply  with  their  requests.  It  was  in  the  slow  days  of  sail- 
ing-vessels, and  many  months  elapsed  before  they  were  able  to 
secure  any  information  from  Cuba  in  response  to  their  wild  in- 
quiries; then  it  was  only  the  meagre  statement  that  the  wo- 
man never  had  been  seen  after  their  departure,  and  it  had  been 
supposed  that,  at  the  last  moment,  they  had  concluded  to  take 
her  with  them. 

"  Whether  the  child  is  alive,  or  whether  she  dropped  him 
over  the  side  of  the  boat  is  the  question  which  his  parents 
spent  years  in  attempting  to  ascertain.  The  mother  died  after 
ten  years ;  but  the  father,  Lord  Harberton,  kept  up  the  search. 
It  has  degenerated  now,  principally,  into  an  effort  to  ascertain 


A    DA  r CUTER   OF  CCBA.  9 

if  the  little  lost  heir  met  death.  This  proven,  the  next  of  kin 
come  into  possession.  The  solicitors  in  London  insist  that 
they  miiSt  have  some  proof  of  the  lost  heir's  death,  or  that  he 
must  be  found." 

Lithgow  was  biting  his  nether  lip  thoughtfully.  The 
story  interested  him.  He  turned  the  ring  over  curiously  and 
watched  the  December  sunshine  bring  out  the  colors  of  the 
stone. 

"  What  has  this  to  do  with  it"  he  questioned.  "  You  think 
that  the  original  is  in  the  possession  of  whom?  You  have  left 
something  untold." 

"  Why,  this  ring  was  missed,  or  the  one  like  it  was  missed, 
and,  it  being  the  property  of  the  master,  it  always  was  sup- 
posed that  the  woman  Annizae  had  stolen  it." 

"And  this  ring  is  all  that  one  has  to  go  on?"  Lithgow 
shook  his  brown  head  dubiously. 

"  The  name,  Anuizae;  we  have  that,  and  it  may  be  of  more 
importance  than  it  seems.     It  is  said  to  be  very  uncommon." 

Lithgow  laid  the  ring  down.  He  appeared  to  have  made 
up  his  mind  not  to  attempt  an  effort  in  a  field  where  failure 
looked  to  be  so  certain.  Mr.  Bertram  began  to  argue  that 
even  if  he  were  not  successful  the  matter  would  stand  just  as 
it  did  now.  Jf  nothing  should  be  gained,  nothing  would  be 
lust. 

Lithguw  loukfd  at  his  watch.  lie  ari)se  with  an  exclania- 
tiuu  uf  surprise.  His  twcnly  minuics  had  lengthened  into 
thirty.      He  picked  up  the  ring  again. 

"  Supposing  that  I  conclude  to  do  what  I  can,  may  I  take 
the  ring  to  refresh  my  memory?"  he  asked.  "  The  bizarre  ob- 
ject is  fascinating.  With  it  to  remind  me  constantly  of  m)' 
mission,  I  should  be  more  likely  to  allow  no  opportunity  to 
escape  me." 

"Of  course,"  agreed  the  lawyer.  "Take  it  I  If  it  brings 
us  the  heir  or  any  knowledge  concerning  him,  I  fancy  that 
neither  of  us  will  have  to  worry  about  money  matters  for 
some  time  to  come.     When  do  you  sail?" 

"  On  the  next  steamer.  Will  it  be  necessary  to  see  you 
again?"  Lithgow  turned  up  his  coat-collar  as  he  asked  the 
question.     He  was  anxious  to  be  off. 

"  No;  but  you  will  keep  me  posted  if  you  learn  anything?" 
Bertram  shook  hands  warmly.    "  You  can't  know  how  thankful 


lO  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

I  am  to  you  for  your  readiness  to  help  me.  Really,  it  seemed 
to  be  too  good  a  chance  to  be  lost." 

"Oh,  yes;  I'll  keep  you  apprised  of  my  movements," 
laughed  Lithgow,  secretly  amused  that  Bertram  should  cher- 
ish hopes  that  appeared  so  hopeless.  "  Write  me  in  charge  of 
the  American  consulate.    Good-by,  if  I  don't  see  you  again." 

"  Good-by!"  cried  Bertram.  "  Take  good  care  of  yourself! 
I'll  be  down  to  see  you  off." 

Lithgow  took  a  street-car,  rode  ten  blocks,  then  walked 
five.  Entering  a  building  that  bore  no  outward  evidence  of 
its  being  the  home  of  Art's  devotees,  he  directed  his  way  to  a 
nook  reached  only  by  the  elevator  and  the  north  light.  This 
had  been  his  prospective  destination  when  he  was  accosted  by 
Mr.  Bertram.     He  knocked  at  the  door. 

"  Come  in,"  said  a  clear  voice  hospitably,  but  the  owner  of 
it  did  not  look  around  to  discern  who  the  individual  was  that 
had  accepted  her  invitation  to  enter.  Intent  on  the  work  with 
which  her  hands  were  engaged,  she  had  no  thought  for  any- 
thing else  at  that  moment.  Little  by  little  she  was  building 
up  with  bits  of  clay  the  svelte  form  of  a  well-known  society 
woman,  who  had  given  her  an  order  for  one  of  the  graceful, 
minute  productions  which,  in  the  artistic  world,  were  becom- 
ing identified  with  the  name  of  Beatrice  Warrington. 

"  Working  yet?"  Lithgow  exclaimed,  with  a  tone  of  glad- 
ness. "  I  was  afraid  that  you  had  gone  home."  He  advanced 
toward  her,  and  stood  inspecting  her  labor  critically. 

"  Oh,  it  is  you,  Lithgow !"  Beatrice  Warrington  said,  glanc- 
ing over  her  shoulder.  "  I  am  anxious  to  satisfy  myself  in  re- 
gard to  this.  What  impression  does  it  make  upon  you?  Does 
it  wear  her  characteristics?"  She  moved  back  to  his  side  and 
viewed  through  discouraged  eyes  the  result  of  her  afternoon's 
labor.     "  I  know  that  it  lacks  something.     What  is  it?" 

He  pulled  his  mustache  reflectively.  He  did  not  wish  to 
fall  short  of  her  expectations,  but  he  really  had  no  fault  to 
find  with  the  dainty  object  before  him. 

"  You  know  that  I  am  no  judge.  Bee,"  he  murmured,  apol- 
ogetically. "  It  looks  quite  perfect.  I  recognized  it  in  a  sec- 
ond. You  might— yes,  don't  you  think  that  you  might  give  a 
trifle  more  of  a  tilt  to  her  head?  That  is  one  of  her  manner- 
isms, you  know." 

"Possibly  I  might,"  admitted  the  young  sculptress  reluct- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  II 

antly.  "  But  this  is  for  her  husband's  Christmas  present, 
and  she  held  her  head  very  erect  to-day,  all  of  her  little  airs 
quite  gone.  Perhaps  he  is  not  accustomed  to  them  at  home 
and  she  wishes  to  appear  natural." 

"  It  may  be  that  this  is  the  aspect  she  wears  when  she  is 
making  a  demand  on  his  bank  account,"  siiggested  Lithgow. 

Beatrice  laughed,  and  began  to  put  her  work  in  proper 
shape  for  the  night. 

With  the  familiarity  of  long  acquaintance  Lithgow  moved 
about  the  studio,  investigating  whatever  he  chose,  lifting  up 
the  cloths  enveloping  the  several  swathed  creations  that 
reared  themselves  spectrally  in  the  gathering  twilight. 

"You  have  lots  of  woi'k  on  hand,  I  see,"  he  commented; 
and  Beatrice  turned  questioningly  as  she  noted  his  rueful 
tone. 

"  More  than  I  can  well  do,"  she  answered,  with  enthusiasm. 
"  My  star  is  beginning  to  creep  up.  Was  it  not  fortunate  that 
I  took  advice  and  followed  up  my  first  success  in  the  statuette 
line?  The  idea,  being  novel,  wins  attention  where  more  pre- 
tentious work  would  pass  unnoticed  by  those  on  whose  ca- 
prices my  livelihood  depends.  I  really  am  making  a  diminu- 
tive fortune." 

Lithgow  seemed  intently  studying  some  sketches  that 
were  pinned  irregularly  on  the  wall.  His  lip  was  shut  in  al- 
most fiercely  by  his  teeth.  He  turned  his  eyes  from  the 
sketches  to  her  face.  His  voice  was  very  quiet  when  he 
spoke. 

"  I  suppose  that  you  think  I  ought  to  congratulate  you  on 
your  success,"  he  said;  "  but,  instead  of  being  glad,  I  am  sor- 
ry— for  myself." 

Beatrice  pushed  a  chair  into  position  with  unnecessary 
haste,  hung  up  her  clay-daubed  apron,  and  took  down  her  hat 
and  jacket. 

"  How  ridiculous!"  she  exclaimed,  with  a  laugh  that  tried 
not  to  lose  its  carelessness.  "  I  intend  that  all  of  my  friends 
shall  rejoice  with  me.  I  am  not  going  to  be  so  busy  that  I 
shall  have  to  deny  myself  our  old  quarrelsome  chats,  Lith- 
gow." 

"  Well,  let's  have  one  now,"  he  begged,  moving  toward  the 
Dutch  settle  which  was  Beatrice's  pride.  "  It  is  the  last  one 
we  shall  have  for  some  time,  unless " 


12  A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA. 

"  Why?"  queried  Beatrice.     "  What  has  happened?" 

"  I  am  going  to  Cuba!" 

"  Oh !"  Lithgow  observed  with  some  satisfaction  that  there 
was  an  unmistakable  touch  of  regret  in  her  voice.     "  When?" 

"  On  the  next  steamer."  He  paused  a  moment ;  then  asked, 
softly :  "  Won't  you  and  the  dear  mother  go  with  me?" 

Beatrice's  blue  eyes  deepened  in  tint.  She  drew  herself 
up  with  a  breath  of  surprise.  There  was  a  question  expressed 
emphatically  in  her  attitude,  but  she  said  nothing. 

Lithgow  took  one  of  her  hands  and  drew  her  persuasively 
to  the  settle. 

"  I  love  you,  Beatrice,"  he  said.  "  I  came  up  here  this  time 
not  to  quarrel,  but  to  ask  you  to  marry  me.  We  can  go  to 
Cuba  on  our  wedding-trip;  I  thought  that  you  would  like  it. 
You  can  pack  a  bag  and  away  we  will  fly; — of  course,  we 
would  not  leave  the  mother !" 

Beatrice  looked  at  him  with  puzzled  eyes.  His  very 
quietness  showed  her  his  earnestness,  but  his  method  of  ac- 
quainting her  with  his  hopes  was,  to  say  the  least,  astonish- 
ingly abrupt. 

"  It  would  be  a  delightful  voyage,  and  mamma  would  en- 
joy it  intensely;  but" — she  pulled  her  fingers  from  his  re- 
taining grasp — "there  would  be  one  objection — I  am  certain 
that  both  of  us  would  t-vt-utnally  find  it  an  objection — we 
Avould  be  married  I'" 

'■  Of  course,  we  would  be  married,"  he  declared.  "  Do  you 
mean  to  say  that  you " 

"  Wouldn't  like  it?"  she  supplemented,  with  a  smile. 
"  That  is  just  what  we  finally  would  discover,  only,  you  see, 
it  would  be  too  late." 

Lithgow  viewed  her  questioningly.  The  darkening  light 
made  her  hair  appear  a  warmer  gold  than  usual ;  her  e3'es 
were  more  blue  and  more  friendly  than  even  they  were  wont 
to  be. 

"  Fond  as  I  am  of  you,  Lithgow,  I  certainly  don't  think 
that  I  am  the  woman  for  you  to  marry,"  she  told  him  gently. 

"  There  is  no  other,"  he  said,  looking  at  her  with  his  black- 
lashed  gray  eyes  full  of  truth. 

"Perhaps  not  this  instant,"  she  smiled,  teasingly;  "but 
there  have  been  others,  and  there  yet  will  be." 

"I  have  told  you  too  much!"   he   regretted.      "But  why 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  13 

have  you  made  me  reveal  my  weaknesses  to  you?  I  never 
would  think  of  confessing  to  another  mortal  as  I  have  to  you ; 
and  you,  of  all  others,  are  the  one  I  desire  should  think  well 
of  me !" 

"  That  is  folly !"  she  exclaimed.  "  I  never  have  made  you 
tell  me  a  single  thing!     How  could  I?" 

"  Well,  the  fact  remains  that  I  have  talked  to  you  more  as 
I  would  to  a  man,"  he  said,  retrospectively.  "  What  has 
made  me  do  it,  Heaven  only  knows! — unless  it  was  that  smile 
of  yours,  which  says " 

"  What?"     Beatrice  lifted  her  brows  curiously. 

"  I  don't  know  what  it  says,"  answered  the  man,  doubt- 
fully, looking  at  her  frank  face  with  keen  eyes.  "  I  wish  that 
I  did.  It  has  seemed  to  speak  of  so  much  to  me,  yet  little 
that  is  tangible.  I  always  go  from  your  presence  with  a  con- 
sciousness of  being  uplifted.  The  weight  of  life  is  less  crush- 
ing.    You  make  one  believe  in  humanity  once  more." 

"  I  like  such  words,"  Beatrice  announced,  with  candor. 
"Women  value  tribute  of  that  nature  more  than  priceless 
jewels." 

"  Perhaps— some  women  do,"  agreed  Lithgow  sceptically; 
"  women  like  you,  who  rebuild  men's  faith.  We  get  dread- 
fully shaken  at  times." 

"  You  should  not,"  blamed  Beatrice.     "  Do  you  forget  those 

lines? 

•"Happy  he 
With  such  a  mother !     Faith  in  womankind 
Beats  with  his  blood,  and  trust  in  all  things  high 
Comes  easy  to  him,  and  the'  he  trip  and  fall 
He  shall  not  blind  his  soul  with  clay.'" 

Lithgow  took  her  energetic  fingers  within  his  own  rever- 
ently. 

"  Is  it  because  you  have  believed  that  prophecy  that  you 
have  been  so  patient  with  me?"  he  asked,  with  humility.  "  I 
have  wished  to  make  myself  think  that  you— were  interested, 
that  you  cared  for  me." 

"I  do,"  vowed  Beatrice  warmly;  "but,  instead  of  marry- 
ing you,  I  will  tell  you  what  I  crave:  your  sympathy,  your 
belief  in  my  ability  to  accomplish,  the  best  that  you  have  to 
offer  in  the  way  of  friendship." 


14  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"You  have  all  those  now,"  he  declared.  "Are  they  all 
that  I  may  give  to  you,  Bee?" 

Beatrice  "Warrington  hesitated.  The  color  crept  slowly 
up  through  her  cheeks;  her  eyes  grew  almost  daring.  Lith- 
gow  felt  that  she  never  had  appeared  more  tempting.  Peo- 
ple thought  her  cold,  but  he  knew  how  tender  was  her  heart, 
how  catholic  her  wide  sympathy. 

"You  often  have  confessed  to  me,"  she  said;  "now  I  will 
tell  you  something.  It  is  a  great  secret.  Only  I  and  my 
heart  know  it.  I  will  love  when  one  comes  who  can  master 
me.  To  him  I  will  bow  gladly,  but  his  superiority  must  be 
real;  it  must  be  such  that  my  soul  can  recognize." 

"  I  fear  that  you  will  have  to  look  for  the  coming  of  the 
archangel  Michael,"  he  discouraged.  "  Men  are  distressingly 
human.  Among  them  you  never  will  find  your  superior 
spiritually,  I  can  tell  you.  I  would  have  been  glad  to  have 
mastered  you  if  I  had  known  for  what  species  of  a  creature 
you  were  waiting.  Is  it  too  late  for  me  to  have  another 
try?" 

"  I  am  afraid  so,"  she  laughed.  "  My  masterful  lord  proba- 
bly never  will  appear  save  in  stone  or  bronze.  Such  a  crea- 
tion I  could  worship  without  fear  of  making  it  egotistical.  I 
believe  what  we  women  long  for  is  not  so  much  equal  rights 
as  the  opportunity  to  worship.  But  we  have  discovered  that 
man  is  not  worthy  of  our  adoration.  See  how  pitiable  a  god 
he  is — bowled  over  by  the  tiniest  temptation!" 

"  You  are  severe  on  us.  Bee,"  he  expostulated.  "  Lots  of 
temptations  go  by  us  without  touching  us." 

"  But  you  always  go  over  as  easily  as  a  tenpin  if  the  rolling 
ball  hits  you,"  she  insisted.  "  Do  I  not  know?  Remember 
how  many  peeps  you  have  given  me  of  your  various  discom- 
fitures !" 

"  Well,  I  have  been  frank  with  you,"  smiled  Lithgow.  "  I 
have  not  posed  for  other  than  I  am — a  man  with  grievous 
faults,  but  faults  that  you  can  eradicate." 

"  Oh,  it  is  too  much  to  ask  a  woman  to  do  all  the  remodel- 
ling!" The  girl  shook  her  head.  "As  I  told  you,  she  does 
not  wish  to  go  down  after  her  lord;  she  wishes  him  to  be  on 
such  a  lofty  pinnacle  that  she  must  look  up  to  him;  it  is  her 
nature  to  desire  to  be  able  to  do  so.  Some  poor  things  live 
happily  all  their  lives  under  the  delusion  that  the  man  they 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  \^ 

reverenco  is  worthy  it.  I  almost  envy  them.  Delusions  are 
nice,  if  one  can  stay  deluded." 

"  But  one  never  does,"  sighed  Lithgow.  "I  have  deluded 
myself  with  the  hope  that  you  cared  enough  to  be  willing  to 
give  me  the  help  of  your  hand.  You  do  not  know  it,  perhaps, 
but  a  man  always  has  the  dream,  or  the  reality,  of  a  woman's 
hand  in  his  before  he  climbs  very  high." 

"  If  one  Icnies  one  can  climb  on  forever,  even  without  the 
encouragement  of  the  object  beloved,"  declared  Beatrice. 
"  Love  means  progression,  a  continued  striving  after  'the  fly- 
ing perfect.'" 

"  You  are  talking  of  etherealizations,"  he  remonstrated. 
"  Such  a  love  is  beyond  the  conception  of  mortals." 

"  Because  mortals  like  to  play  with  little  tin  gods  and  gin- 
ger-bread toys,  from  which  they  will  not  lift  their  gaze,  and 
they  cry  to  themselves:  'These  are  real!  These  are  all  that 
exist!'  " 

"I  have  raised  my  eyes  from  the  toys  at  last,  Beatrice," 
he  told  her  meaningly.  "  They  can  attract  me  no  more.  If 
the  time  ever  comes  that  I  can  prove  this  to  you,  will  you 
listen?" 

Something  leaped  into  Beatrice's  face  that  softened  it  in- 
describably. 

"If  the  time  ever  comes,"  she  promised,  vtith  perceptible 
scepticism  as  to  its  probable  arrival. 

He  assisted  in  the  laborious  task  of  getting  her  sleeves 
into  the  no  less  bouffant  ones  that  her  jacket  boasted.  He 
watched  her  while  she  adjusted  her  hat  before  an  antique  mir- 
ror which  had  the  appearance  of  having  suffered  from  the 
small-pox  at  some  time  in  its  career.  He  concluded  that  it 
would  be  well  to  begin  the  conquering  without  delay, 

"  I  am  going  out  home  with  you,"  he  informed  her.  "  It 
is  too  late  for  you  to  be  out  alone;  besides,  the  mother  will 
wish  to  give  me  a  kiss  of  farewell.  Must  I  not  tell  her  about 
the  delightful  trip  she  might  have  had  as  a  mother-in-law?" 

"Not  a  breath!"  commanded  Beatrice  tragically,  sending  a 
covert  smile  into  the  speckled  mirror.  "  It  was  a  preposter- 
ous proposition!  The  idea  of  asking  a  woman  to  start  on 
such  a  journey  with  but  a  moment's  notice.  What  is  a  week? 
Why,  it  takes  years  for  some  people  to  get  ready  to  be  mar- 
ried.    I  don't  think  I  have  been  half  severe  enough.     I  should 


l6  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

iTot  be  surprised  if  this  is  one  of  your  jokes  I  You  always  have 
played  jokes  on  me  from  babyhood."  She  pulled  down  her 
dotted  veil,  wriggled  her  nose  to  make  sure  that  the  dainty 
gauze  was  perfectly  arranged,  and  opened  the  door. 

"  I  am  serious  more  often  than  you  fancy,"  he  told  her 
lightly.  "You  simply  have  not  got  the  key  to  my  nature. 
Just  because  we  have  known  each  other  always  you  believe 
that  you  read  me  like  a  book." 

"  Don't  I?"  she  queried. 

"  You  read  always  in  the  same  place,"  was  his  injured  re- 
ply.    "  There  are  other  pages." 

"  And  other  women's  faces  are  on  them." 

"  Well — you  can  erase  them  all  if  you  will. 

"  I  want  you  to  do  the  erasing,"  she  laughed.  "  But  you 
never  will.  I  wager — my  next  work — that  you  will  return 
from  Cuba  freshly  enamored." 

"  Of  you." 

"  No,  not  of  me;  of  some  southern  beauty  or  of  a  northern 
girl  wintering  there." 

"  What  is  the  use  of  having  good  intentions  when  so  little 
faith  is  placed  in  them?"  demanded  Lithgow.  "  I  receive  no 
encouragement  from  you.  Your  fancy  paints  me  much  blacker 
than  I  am.  All  that  I  need  is  a  governor.  I  am  like  an  engine 
that  goes  on  making  numberless  revolutions  to  no  purpose. 
Be  my  governor,  Bee!" 

"  Too  responsible  a  position,"  returned  the  girl.  "  I  don't 
know  what  a  governor  on  an  engine  is.  However,  you  may 
write  me  often  enough  to  keep  me  posted.  I  can  determine 
from  your  letters  how  the  affair  is  progressing." 

"  What  affair?" 

"  Oh,  any  affair  that  happens  to  be  on  the  tapis." 

"  Do  I  reveal  myself  so?  By  the  way,  I  must  tell  you  of 
the  odd  thing  that  cropped  up  to-day.  I  am  commissioned 
not  only  to  look  up  coffee  estates  but  to  discover  the  where- 
abouts of  an  heir  who  has  been  so  fortunate  as  to  fall  into  pos- 
session of  a  title  of  which  he  never  has  heard." 

He  recounted  his  meeting  with  Mr.  Bertram  and  its  re- 
sults.    Beatrice  listened  with  the  keenest  interest. 

"  Why,  it  is  like  a  story !"  she  exclaimed.  "  You  may  have 
great  adventures  before  you!  You  must  rehearse  this  for 
mamma's  ears.     You  will  dine  with   us,  of   course.     I  will 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  17 

make  the  coffee  myself — you  know  my  coffee ! — and  mamma 
shall  concoct  some  of  those  hot  tea-cakes  that  you  used  to 
like.     Don't  you  remember?" 

"  Remember?  The  mere  mention  of  them  takes  me 
back " 

"Mercy!  Don't  tell  how  far!"  she  begged.  "  When  I  re- 
alize how  long  ago  we  were  children  I  can  feel  that  a  new 
wrinkle  creeps  in  at  the  corner  of  my  frightened  eye.  You 
used  to  order  me  around  outrageously  then." 

"Did  I?"  he  questioned,  with  rather  wistful  reflection. 
"  Yet  I  am  mildness  itself  now.  It  is  well  enough  to  have  a 
master,  but  isn't  it  better  to  have  slaves?  If  I  once  possessed 
imperious  qualities,  I  suppose  that  I  can  conjure  them  again 
to  my  aid.  I  will  make  the  effort  while  I  am  gone.  Prepare 
to  defend  yourself  against  the  attack  which  will  be  inaugu- 
rated on  my  return." 

"  Forewarned "  she  said.     "  You  never  would  do  for  a 

general !" 

Lithgow  was  welcomed  by  Mrs.  Warrington  with  the 
warmth  that  his  dead  mother's  friend  always  accorded  him. 
This  household  had  been  a  second  home  to  him,  and  when  the 
fortune  which  supported  it  had  flown  and  the  death  of  Mr. 
Warrington  followed,  Lithgow  had  proved  to  the  bereaved 
woman  the  help  and  comfort  that  a  son  would  have  been. 

Five  days  later  he  was  aboard  a  steamer  that  pushed  its 
way  out  through  the  Narrows  bound  for  southern  seas.  His 
thoughts  were  of  Beatrice  as  he  leaned  over  the  taffrail  and 
watched  the  pilot  swing  down  into  the  boat  below.  He  was 
full  of  regret  that  she  had  chosen  not  to  have  the  delights  of 
this  voyage.  He  was  man  enough  to  believe  that,  despite  her 
seeming  indifference,  he  would  win  her  some  day;  then,  why 
not  now? 

There  was  a  pleasant  wintry  sharpness  in  the  air  when  he 
embarked,  but  by  the  third  morning  out  the  atmosphere  pulsed 
with  a  warmth  that  rendered  heavy  clothing  insupportable. 

Lithgow  sauntered  on  the  deck,  past  the  white  boats  and 
orange- tipped  chimneys.  He  smoked  much  and  read  desulto- 
rily in  a  worn  little  volume  which  Beatrice  had  handed  him, 
with  the  comment  that  the  sight  of  it  might  keep  her  in  his 
mind  and  so  enable  him  to  cling  to  his  intentions. 
2 


1 8  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

Through  waters  that  grew  more  divinely  blue,  under  skies 
that  throbbed  with  color,  caressed  by  winds  which  seemed 
only  the  warm,  sleepy  breath  of  a  sea  beating  with  slumber- 
ous emotions,  the  hours  bore  him.  The  gold  and  sapphire 
days  became  longer,  the  sunsets  more  gorgeous,  until  the 
twilights  vanished  altogether  and  darkness  dropped  with  the 
suddenness  peculiar  to  the  far  south. 

In  the  wake  of  the  steamer  a  long  plume  of  phosphores- 
cent light  stretched  its  iridescence  to  that  magic  line  where 
sky  and  whispering  waters  mingled.  The  well-known  glitter- 
ing Orion  and  the  Pleiads  floated  in  the  heavens,  as  if  they, 
too,  were  voyaging  and  lost  in  admiration  of  their  southern 
kindred. 

Indolently  sunk  in  his  sea-chair,  lulled  by  the  narcotic  at- 
mosphere that  rests  in  Caribbean  waters,  Lithgow's  thoughts 
still  drifted  to  Beatrice ;  but  they  were  very  dreamy,  discon- 
nected thoughts.  It  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  been  floating 
thus  for  many  years.  His  eyes  were  turned  to  where  the 
Southern  Cross  flamed  through  the  purple  night.  Slowly  it 
was  mounting  to  a  height  from  which,  at  the  hour  when  night 
and  day  become  one,  it  would  send  its  proclamation  of  su- 
premacy over  all  the  little  worlds  beneath. 

The  captain  came  near  and  Lithgow,  with  the  ennui  of  an 
ocean  traveller,  inquired : 

"  When  shall  we  be  in  Havana?" 

"  In  the  morning,  sir,  the  ship  will  be  riding  in  the  finest 
harbor  known;  it  boasts  that  it  can  hold  the  fleets  of  the 
world." 

"  Will  it  ever  hold  other  fleet  than  that  of  Spain?"  ques- 
tioned the  American. 

"  If  certain  hopeful  spirits  are  to  be  believed — yes !"  an- 
swered the  captain  cautiously.  "  But  it  is  wiser  to  reply  as 
the  Ctibans  themselves  do :  '  Quien  sabe? 

"  The  inevitable  answer  to  every  question  in  the  lands  on 
which  Spain  has  set  her  seal !"  commented  Lithgow.  "  Who 
knows?"  After  a  pause  he  asked :  "  Is  there  any  disturbance 
in  the  island  now?" 

"  It  is  safe  to  conjecture  that  one  is  just  finished  or  another 
about  to  be  beguti,"  the  captain  laiighed,  with  a  shake  of  his 
broad  shoulders.  "  What  Cuba  needs  is  a  general  such  as  the 
States  have  known.      There  were  such  in  the  last  war,  the 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  I9 

ten-year  war,  but  they  had  tremendous  forces  against  them. 
Just  at  present  there  is  a  bandit  who  is  causing  the  govern- 
ment some  trouble.  He  is  daring  enough  for  a  leader;  but 
other  qualities  are  requisite.  His  name  is  Gonzalo  Alarcon. 
If  you  go  into  the  interior  you  must  look  out  for  him  and  his 
men.  He  is  unscrupulous  enough  to  take  you  as  prisoner  and 
demand  ransom." 

"  I  would  be  much  more  likely  to  join  them  than  pay  a  ran- 
som to  secure  liberty,"  declared  Lithgow.  "I'd  like  nothing 
better  than  to  help  the  Cubans  win  their  freedom !" 

"  Ssh — "  warned  the  captain,  glancing  about  them.  "  You 
must  learn  better  than  to  utter  such  expressions  in  these 
waters,  or  you  are  likely  never  to  return  to  the  States.  This 
Alarcon  is  no  patriot;  he  simply  is  a  brigand  for  gain,  I  sup- 
pose. In  case  there  were  a  war  no  doubt  but  what  he  would 
join  the  forces  of  the  rebels;  but  it  is  not  men  like  him  who 
make  up  Cuba's  dauntless  armies.  Her  wars  have  been  fought 
by  the  flower  of  the  island,  youths  who  died  with  the  word  of 
liberty  on  their  lips.  It  makes  the  blood  of  a  Yankee  boil 
when  he  thinks  of  the  oppression  these  Cubans  endure !" 

Lithgow  could  not  but  be  amused  at  the  vehemence  of  the 
man  who  had  but  that  instant  warned  him  against  such  utter- 
ances. They  discussed  the  Cuban  question  in  guarded  tones 
until  the  captain  pointed  upward. 

"  The  Cross  begins  to  bend !"  he  said.     "  It  is  midnight." 

The  hour  being  past  for  which  he  had  waited,  Lithgow  rose 
to  his  feet,  stifling  a  yawn. 

"  I  shall  sleep  on  deck,"  he  returned.  "  It  will  be  daylight 
in  two  or  three  hours." 

But  he  did  not  sleep.  A  curious  unrest  grew  upon  him 
with  the  coming  of  the  dawn  which  he  watched  creep  up. 
The  sun  followed  with  the  rapidity  known  to  the  tropics.  It 
disclosed  that  they  lay  outside  the  harbor. 

When  the  magic  waters  were  entered  he  stared  down  de- 
lightedly through  the  transparent  emerald  fluid.  The  Ijrilliant 
tints  of  the  fish  frolicking  beneath  the  surface  were  to  be  seen 
as  plainly  as  if  they  lay  throbbing  on  the  marble  of  Marti's  fish 
market. 

The  shadow  of  the  grim  fortress,  the  Moro.  threw  itself  far. 
The  shadow  of  the  secrets  wliich  it  holds,  of  the  thousands 
who,  entering  its  walls,  have  never  since  been  heard  of,  lies 


20  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA, 

heavier  on  the  heart  of  the  people.  From  its  towers  hung  the 
red  and  yellow  flag  of  Spain,  blood  and  gold — typical,  indeed, 
of  that  avaricious  realm. 

The  red-tiled  roofs  and  many-colored  fagades  of  the  houses 
on  the  west  and  southwest  sides  of  the  bright  water  began  to 
glisten  as  the  day  waxed  strong.  In  the  distance  rose  pur- 
pling hilltops  crowned  with  palms  and  decked  with  a  green 
fire  of  foliage  that  centuries  can  not  quench.  Vociferous  boys 
came  out  in  boats.  Lithgow  tossed  coins  to  the  sand  below, 
in  order  to  see  the  lithe,  naked  bodies  dive  through  the  sap- 
phire waters.  He  was  alert  with  that  expectancy  which  at- 
tends landing  on  new  shores.  When  the  quarantine  boat  had 
made  its  appearance  and  the  officials  had  rendered  a  clean  bill 
of  health  to  all  passengers,  he  descended  into  one  of  the  small 
craft  that  swarmed  around  the  steamer.  As  he  did  so  the 
book  which  Beatrice  had  given  him  fell  from  his  pocket  into 
the  water.  Instantly  it  was  fished  out  and  presented  to  him, 
some  the  worse  for  its  mishap.  As  he  regarded  it  regretfully 
his  glance  caught  the  passage : 

"  No  man  can  antedate  his  experience,  or  guess  what  fac- 
ulty or  feeling  a  new  object  shall  unlock,  any  more  than  he 
can  draw  to-day  the  face  of  a  person  whom  he  shall  see  to- 
morrow for  the  first  time." 

A  quiver  ran  over  him,  tingling  every  nerve.  Wondering 
what  was  in  the  lines  to  awaken  dormant  senses  in  that  fash- 
ion, he  reread  them,  but  the  surprising  emotion  did  not  re- 
turn. He  thrust  the  volume  back  in  his  pocket.  The  words 
were  impressed  indelibly  on  his  memory,  from  which  they 
were  destined  to  repeat  themselves  with  deep  and  deeper 
meaning  during  the  days  that  were  to  come  to  him  on  Cuban 
shores. 


CHAPTER   II. 

The  radiant  sunlight  of  the  tropics  lay  over  the  emerald 
^tretches  of  the  Cuban  cane-fields  that  comprised  Gilbert  Pal- 
grave's  sugar  plantation  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa.  The  swaying 
tassel-tips  at  the  head  of  each  succulent  shaft  had  yellowed 
slowly  beneath  the  breathless  heat  of  many  such  afternoons 
that  drowsed  their  way  toward  the  west.      Ebony  workers 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  21 

moved  like  a  colony  of  ants  through  the  rows,  cutting  clown 
the  slender  stalks  with  machetes  that  swung  with  rhythmic 
regularity.  Shapely  mulattoes  with  curiously  turbaned  heads 
lent  color  to  the  scene  as  they,  amid  much  chattering,  spread 
out  the  crushed  cane  to  dry,  to  serve  again  in  the  capacity  of 
l)d^iizo,  fuel  for  the  voracious  maw  of  the  engine  that  rumbled 
ponderously  in  the  low,  white  buildings  where  the  manufac- 
ture of  sugar  went  on  tirelessly  night  and  day  during  the  four 
months  of  the  grinding  season. 

Beyond  the  rich  green  of  the  orange  grove  gleamed  the 
walls  of  the  dwelling,  its  austere  exterior  betraying  no  hint  of 
the  beauty  and  bloom  enclosed  in  the  cloistered  court,  roofed 
only  with  the  blue  of  the  sky. 

In  the  most  comfortable  chair  of  the  estrada, — the  six  rock- 
ing-chairs, which,  facing  each  other,  form  a  marked  feature 
of  a  Cuban  drawing-room, — sat  the  master  of  the  estate,  the  in- 
evitable cigar  between  his  fingers,  a  half-amused,  half-troubled 
contraction  on  his  brows.  From  under  lids  just  lifted  from  the 
sleep  of  the  customary  afternoon  siesta  he  was  watching  the 
restless  movement  to  and  fro  through  the  sala  of  a  lithe,  girl- 
ish figure  behind  which  trailed  long,  white  draperies  that  were 
caught  up  occasionally  through  her  girdle.  She  was  his  only 
child,  Raquel,  motherless  since  infancy.  He  remarked  men- 
tally, with  a  wave  of  gladness,  how  like  her  mother  she  looked 
now  that  she  was  merging  into  womanhood :  the  same  dusky, 
riotous  hair,  the  identical  rich  color,  the  same— no,  not  the 
same  eyes!  Beneath  Raquel's  slumberous  lids  shone  some- 
thing that  had  been  wholly  foreign  to  her  mother.  Gilbert 
Palgrave  wondered  vaguely  whence  had  come  to  the  child  that 
fire,  that  fierce  intensity  which  made  her  such  an  enigma  to 
him.  try  though  he  would  to  imderstand  her  moods. 

"  Ay  de  mi  !  "  she  sighed  as  she  paused  in  front  of  a  little  case 
of  books  that  showed  indubitable  signs  of  much  usage.  "  Was 
it  not  sufficient  evil  to  be  born  a  woman  without  the  additional 
one  of  being  born  in  Cuba,  where  nothing  ever  happens?" 

"  Except  revolutions,"  completed  her  father. 

"  Yes,  nothing  except  revolutions— that  fail !"  she  amended, 
wheeling  herself  suddenly  face  to  face  with  him  to  demand : 
"  Do  you  know  what  I  would  do,  J>c7/>a  tnio,  if  I  were  a  man?" 

"That  is  easy  enough  to  prophesy,  mi  cam  mia,"  he  re- 
sponded lightly.     "  You  would  follow  the  customary  path  trod 


22  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

b}'  Cuban  youths.  Going  abroad  to  be  educated,  you  would 
imbibe  ideas  inimical  to  tyranny.  Incidentally  you  would 
squander  what  little  fortune  your  old  English  father  is  trying 
to  keep  from  the  hands  of  the  Spanish  Jews.  Then  you  would 
return  to  the  island  to  throw  yourself  into  whatever  struggle 
for  liberty  might  then  be  on  the  tapis." 

With  loving  impetuosity  she  clasped  him,  turning  his  fea- 
tures up  to  view  them  scrutinizingly,  after  which  she  kissed 
his  eyes  and  lips  with  tender  fervor. 

"  Old !"  she  cried  indignantly.  "  You  are  younger  now  than 
I  am,  j>apa  mio  !  I  have  grown  old  in  nursing  impatient  long- 
ings; but  you — are  content.  You  are  not  all  the  tim.e  fighting 
against  yourself  as  I  am." 

"  Why  do  you  fight,  ninaV  the  father  asked  curiously. 

"  Quien  sabe  ?  "  she  answered  discouragedly  with  that  sphinx- 
like reply  which  the  Spanish-speaking  tongue  gives  to  every 
troublesome  query :  "  Who  knov^'s?"  She  resumed  her  im- 
patient march  around  the  spacious  room  much  as  a  lioness 
glides  with  noiseless  swing  back  and  forth  in  the  cage.  Behind 
bars  the  topazolite  orbs  of  imprisoned  creatures  turn  with  fever- 
ish questions  in  their  depths;  and  so  burned  the  eyes  which 
looked  out  from  the  face  of  this  Cuban  seiiorita  shut  in  by  the 
monotony  of  cane-fields. 

"  I  only  know  that  I  hunger  for  action,"  she  continued  after 
a  pause,  during  which  she  seemed  to  have  been  making  an  en- 
deavor to  analyze  herself.  "  This  stagnant  plantation  life 
seems  unbearable.  I  want  to  live,  paj>a  viio  !  I  want  to  make 
the  world  know  that  I  am  in  it.  If  I  were  a  man  I  would  be 
the  Napoleon  for  whom  Cuba  waits.  I  would  have  but  one 
thought  before  me — the  liberation  of  my  land  from  Spanish 
rule !" 

Gilbert  Palgrave  could  not  forbear  smiling.  He  was  some- 
what accustomed  to  those  outbreaks ;  he  had  grown  to  accept 
them  as  inseparable  from  Raquel. 

"  It  is  well  that  the  Governor-General  is  not  aware  of  your 
anti-Spain  proclivities,  or  I  might  find  myself  immured  in  the 

Moro,  the  ingenio  confiscated,  and  you !     What  under  the 

sun  makes  Cuba's  liberation  of  such  moment  to  you,  a  child 
who  has  seen  nothing  of  life?" 

"Ah,  it  is  that,  it  is  that!"  she  cried.  "Perhaps  it  is  be- 
cause I  have  seen  so  little  of  anything  that  I  long  for  change, 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  25 

work,  something  that  will  banish  the  length  of  these  days  that 
sleep  themselves  away  one  into  the  other  until  often  I  fancy 
that  I  can  imagine  what  might  have  been  the  reflections  of  an 
antediluvian  toad  when  he  discovered  that  the  cell  was  form- 
ing which,  for  a  thousand  years,  was  to  shut  him  in  from  the 
world." 

Gilbert  Palgrave  pushed  back  his  rapidly  graying  hair  as 
he  surveyed  her  critically,  from  her  rebellious,  shadowy  tresses 
to  the  arch  of  her  instep. 

"  If  the  season  turns  out  well  and  I  can  manage  to  pay  some 
of  my  debts,  perhaps  Havana  will  be  possible  next  year,"  he 
suggested.  "  There  you  will  find  a  field  more  fascinating  than 
the  struggle  for  Cuban  independence.  I  must  not  forget  that 
you  are  no  longer  my  childish  comrade,  but,  instead,  a  tall 
beauty  who  must  be  presented  to  society,  ride  in  the  Paseo 
to  be  stared  at,  and — marry  well."  There  was  a  slight  flavor 
of  tender  sarcasm  in  his  tone,  not  for  his  daughter  but  for  the 
sex  whose  aim  in  life  is  supposed  to  be  so  circumscribed.  In 
his  own  mind  he  had  little  doubt  that  all  these  vagaries  of 
Raquel's  would  vanish  under  the  magic  spell  of  Havanese  gay 
life.  It  was  true  that  she  had  seen  little.  Most  of  her  educa- 
tion had  been  gleaned  from  the  rather  heterogeneous  collec- 
tion of  books  with  which  he  had  surrounded  himself  when  he 
had  taken  up  his  abode  so  far  from  his  native  land.  Possibly 
he  had  made  a  mistake  in  not  placing  her  under  more  feminine 
influence  than  the  plantation  afforded.  Old  Tia  Juana  had 
hardly  been  equal  to  the  rearing  of  this  half-English  nature. 
These  were  his  reflections  as  he  listened  to  her  passionate  re- 
ply, flung  not  at  him  but  at  fate. 

"  That  is  what  is  so  intensely  humiliating  about  being  a 
woman!  Instead  of  seeking  fame  or  fortune  for  myself, 
shoulder  to  shoulder  with  others  in  the  race,  I  must  swing  in 
my  hammock  and  eat  my  heart  out  with  longing  to  achieve, 
until  that  day  when  one  who  has  won  these  things  for  himself 
will  come  and  offer  to  share  his  honors  with  me,  as  if  I  were 
a  mendicant." 

The  sound  of  wheels  followed  her  speech.  Gilbert  Pal- 
grave arose  with  some  alacrity,  as  if  even  he  found  an  inter- 
ruption in  the  quiet  day  rather  enjoyable. 

"  It  is  only  old  Monsieur  Theuriet!"  Raquel  disappointedly 
exclaimed,  watching  the  approach  of  the  old-fashioned  volante 


24  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

with  its  silver  trimmings,  gayly  decked  horses,  and  smiling 
postilion. 

"  I  wonder  that  he  ventures  out  so  boldly  minus  outriders  1" 
commented  the  sugar  planter,  as  he  went  into  the  court  to  wel- 
come the  owner  of  the  coffee  estate  of  La  Buena  Esperanza. 
"  The  reports  are  that  the  highways  are  watched  by  banditti  of 
late.  Here  is  the  event  for  which  you  have  prayed,  in  the 
shape  of  a  visitor,  Raquel.     Come  and  bid  him  welcome." 

Raquel's  eyes  were  very  sombre. 

"  He  is  so  tiresome !"  she  said,  half  to  herself,  in  extenuation 
of  her  intention  to  escape  the  caller.  "  I  suppose  that  he  will 
stay  for  supper.     I  must  go  and  tell  Tia  Juana." 

The  clatter  of  the  horses'  feet  resounded  on  the  tiles  at  the 
entrance.  The  girl  listened  for  a  moment  to  the  exchange  of 
salutations  between  host  and  guest,  undecided  whether  to  obey 
duty  or  inclination.  When  she  heard  the  voices  approaching 
the  sala  she  stepped  backward  quickly  into  the  adjoining 
apartment,  from  which  she  took  her  way  to  the  cocina,  where 
the  culinary  operations  of  the  household  went  on  under  the 
supervision  of  old  Tia  Juana,  who  had  been  the  only  mother 
Raquel  ever  had  known.  The  sharp,  staccato  utterances  of 
the  women  could  be  heard  even  above  the  roar  of  the  mill,  as 
they  gossiped  and  quarrelled  over  their  kitchen  labor.  Some- 
times Raquel  sat  among  them,  watching  Tia  Juana' s  fingers  as 
she  fashioned  tempting  delicacies,  the  while  recounting  grew- 
some  tales  that  could  congeal  even  adult  blood.  But  to-day 
she  was  not  in  the  mood  for  such  entertainment.  Instead,  she 
slipped  back  into  the  court,  now  deserted,  and  rolled  herself 
into  the  hammock  of  maguey  ropes. 

During  the  blazing  noon,  great,  gorgeous  strips  of  brilliant- 
hued  cloth  were  stretched  across  the  little  quadrangle.  Now 
they  hung  with  lazy,  clinging  folds  down  the  azure-tinted 
stucco,  lending  an  oriental  effect  to  the  corridor-bordered 
square  filled  with  heavy  bloom  which  half  hid  the  old  fountain 
where  the  water  splashed  and  dripped  so  drowsily  that  even 
the  lizards  hung  to  the  edge,  mesmerized  by  the  spell  it  seemed 
to  exercise  over  all  whose  ears  caught  its  cadences.  Gos- 
samery vines,  which  appeared  to  spring  from  air  and  feed  on 
it,  created  blossoms  that  hung  like  butterflies  from  hair-like 
stems. 

Here,  in  this  spot  of  calm,  Raquel  had  swung  and  dreamed 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  25 

until  she  felt  a  kinship  with  the  lizard  and  his  mates,  chained 
by  a  life  of  inertia. 

"Wake!"  she  murmured  commiseratingly,  reaching  out  to 
poke  a  lizard  with  her  slender  forefinger  until  he  fell  over  into 
the  water.  "  You  have  not  moved  from  that  spot  all  day.  You 
might  as  well  be  dead !" 

That  brief  excitement  over,  she  sought  to  amuse  herself  by 
watching  to  see  which  of  the  gently  swaying  plumes  of  the 
lofty  palm  that  shot  its  gray  Corinthian  column  up  from  the 
centre  of  the  quadrangle  would  be  the  first  to  lose  the  glint 
of  the  rapidly  dying  day. 

"  Sant:ssi//ia  !  What  exasperation  there  is  in  the  thought 
that  while  I  sleep  in  the  few  hours  before  the  morrow  you 
will  have  looked  upon  all  the  vast  unknown  for  which  I  hun- 
ger!" she  cried,  apostrophizing  the  declining  sun.  "You  will 
have  smiled,  as  you  have  done  for  ages,  at  your  own  image  in 
the  Nile ;  and,  rising  again  on  the  Antilles,  you  will  find  me 
as  ignorant,  as  full  of  longings  as  ever,  praying  for  some  break 
in  the  monotony  of  my  slowly  creeping  days." 

There  was  an  infinitesimal  amount  of  comfort  to  be  derived 
from  commiserating  herself  as  well  as  the  lizard,  and  she  ex- 
tracted the  most  possible  from  it  while  she  idly  noted  the  mel- 
low tints,  followed  by  tender  grays  and  ethereal  greens,  steal 
through  the  sky,  the  shadow  of  approaching  night  sweeping 
slowly  after. 

"  I  should  like  to  know  ivhy  we  have  to  live !"  she  mused 
discontentedly.  "  Why  are  we  placed  here  without  our  wish 
to  live  out  our  lives  as  best  we  can;  then,  if  we  fail  to  live 
well,  be  punished  for  not  overcoming  evils  that  we  don't  know 
how  to  vanquish?  Tia  Juana  says  that  babies  always  cry  when 
they  find  themselves  here.  I  wonder  is  it  because  they  are 
disappointed  to  find  themselves  within  the  limitations  of  a  life 
on  this  earth?" 

A  star  that  gleamed  like  a  ruby  came  out  of  the  darkening 
heaven  and  feigned  to  dance  on  the  tip  of  the  silent  palm  up 
into  which  she  was  gazing.  This  green-crested  palm  shaft, 
whose  concentric  rings  revealed  its  claims  to  antiquity,  was 
the  only  confidant  to  whom  she  propounded  these  troublesome 
queries.  To  both  problems  and  solutions  it  gave  but  sighs. 
From  its  vantage  of  years  it  could  discern  that  all  human  ques- 
tions meet  with  but  one  answer — silence. 


26  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

"  Sometimes  I  think  that  people  who  unwillingly  have  died 
desire  to  come  back  here  and  live  again,"  she  continued. 
"  Who  knows  but  that  their  wistful  spirits  steal  into  the  bodies 
of  those  just  entering  upon  this  existence?  Perhaps  that  is 
why  some  men  have  women's  natures,  and  why  some  women 
are  torn  by  fierce,  eager  souls  which  long  to  be  again  what  they 
were  in  the  previous  life !  What  would  a  woman  do  with  the 
soul  that  was  Napoleon's?  How  it  would  torment  her!  How 
it  would  turn  with  loathing  from  the  needle,  demanding  the 
sword !  How  it  would  storm  within  her,  longing  for  action, 
ready  to  lead  an  army  again  over  the  Alps  I" 

She  put  her  fingers  to  her  throat  as  if  to  free  something 
that  fluttered  there  and  choked  her. 

"  I  like  to  fancy  that  it  was  Napoleon's  spirit  that  came  into 
the  world  with  me,"  she  whispered  to  the  palm,  stretching  out 
one  arm  to  throw  it  around  the  trunk  as  she  swung  near.  She 
held  herself  against  the  tree,  her  cheek  pressed  close  to  the 
tawny-gray  swathing  encasing  its  heart.  "  How  foolish  ray 
rebellion  must  seem  to  you!"  she  said  to  it  in  sudden  self- 
scorn.  "  You  lift  your  head  up  and  up  unceasingly,  conscious 
there  is  a  constant  growth  within  you  which  nothing  can  baffle. 
You  still  will  toss  your  plumes  when  I  and  my  ambitions  are 
but  a  memory.  Yet,  king  though  you  are,  I  am  mightier  than 
you ;  my  span  of  j^^ears  may  be  only  one  thousandth  part  of 
yours,  but  in  it  I  shall  know^ — I  must  know — the  heights  and 
depths,  the  bliss  and  bane  which  are  vouchsafed  to  mortals. 
You  who  are  immortal  are  debarred  from  such  experiences, 
though  perhaps  you  have  known  them  too  in  some  other  age — 
the  cycle  in  which  Daphne  flourished.  Who  knows?  Is  that 
why  your  leaves  sigh  so  when  I  rail  at  the  fate  which  set  me 
in  the  cane-fields  of  sleepy  Cuba?" 

She  had  watched  the  stars  creep  out  and  swing  their  varied 
censer-lamps  across  her  little  patch  of  sky  for  so  many  nights 
through  so  many  years  that  she  knew  where  to  look  for  each 
wanderer  in  heaven's  highway.  Though  she  did  not  know 
them  by  name  she  had  christened  them  with  appellations  culled 
from  mythology,  and  they  were  viewed  as  friends,  these  night- 
ly comers.  But  there  were  hours  like  this  when  their  impas- 
siveness  irritated  her. 

"  It  is  well  enough  for  them  to  be  calm,"  she  thought. 
"  They  have  seen   everything.     The  world  obediently  turns 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  27 

her  many  phases  toward  them  and  they  are  forever  in  motion 
themselves.  But  I — I  am  nothing.  I  see  nothing.  I  only 
know  of  what  I  read.  I  presume  it  will  be  my  lot  to  be  mar- 
ried and  never  see  beyond  the  edge  of  Cuba ;  never  learn  any 
more ;  never  grow  wiser ;  only  grow  fat  and  sit  in  estradas  and 
gossip!     O  Madre  dc  Dios !  Libra  vie  dc  mal  f 

She  sprang  from  the  hammock  to  escape  the  picture  her 
fancy  had  drawn  of  her  mature  years.  The  sound  of  her 
father's  earnest  voice  drew  her  toward  it.  Midway  in  the 
doorway  of  the  sala  she  paused,  observing  M.  Theuriet.  It 
seemed  to  her  that  he  had  not  changed  an  iota  in  all  the  years 
during  which  she  had  been  advancing  into  womanhood.  He 
always  had  looked  old  to  her  youthful  vision.  A  Frenchman, 
his  nationality  would  have  been  patent  to  any  eyes.  Years 
among  the  Cubans  had  removed  none  of  the  characteristics  of 
his  race;  if  anything,  they  were  intensified.  The  jet-black 
appearance  of  his  hair  and  mustache  seemed  at  variance 
with  the  yellow  parchment-like  skin,  but  in  keeping  with  the 
foppis^  elegance  which  he  ever  maintained  and  which  ever 
was  associated  in  her  mind  with  him.  He  was  gesticulating 
gently  with  his  graceful,  slender  fingers.  She  did  not  catch 
his  words.     Presently  her  father  spoke  again : 

"  If  all  goes  well  this  year  and  I  meet  with  no  reverses,  I 
may  be  able  to  stand  firmly  on  my  feet  once  more ;  then,  I  can 
free  myself  from  the  hands  of  those  atrocious  usurers,  the  Cat- 
alans. As  you  know,  the  expenses  of  the  last  two  years  have 
been  double  the  profit,  owing  partly  to  the  cost  of  the  new 
machinery.  However,  the  principal  loss  has  been  due  to  the 
increase  in  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar.  You  cofi'ee  planters 
don't  have  such  things  to  worry  you." 

"  Ah,  pardon,  mon  ami T  M.  Theuriet  shook  his  cigar  in  a 
slightly  argumentative  way  at  his  host.  "  You  forget  ze  een- 
sectsl  Unseen,  can  zey  not  ruin  ma  eentire  crop?  Cairtainleel 
Worse — zey  can  ruin  ze  reputation  which  I  hav'  won  for  ma 
plantaceon  as  producing  ze  finest  coffee  een  Cuba!  Hav'  I 
told  you  zat  ze  New  York  firm  ov  Jersdan  &  Lester  are  send- 
ing a  man  down  here  to  negotiate  wiz  me  for  ze  whole  output 
from  La  Buena  Esperanza?  Ma  foi!  Hav'  I  not?  I  hav"  re- 
ceived notice  some  time  ago.  Ze  man  was  to  sail  soon.  I  ex- 
pect heem  daily  now.  His  societc  will  be  quite  a  treat  for 
us,  will  eet  not?    Zese  Americains  are  often  clevair." 


28  A     DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Gilbert  Palgrave  sighed.  He  had  no  particular  interest  in 
the  possible  wit  of  a  man  who  was  coming  to  buy  a  crop  not 
his  own.  He  was  blaming  the  choice  which  had  made  him  a 
sugar  planter  instead  of  a  coffee  grower.  M.  Theuriet  had 
been  steadily  waxing  richer  and  he  himself  had  become  poorer. 
Sugar  was  lower  in  price  with  each  year.  The  plantation  now 
was  mortgaged  to  its  fullest  extent,  and,  in  addition,  he  owed 
ten  thousand  to  the  man  before  him.  He  knocked  the  ashes 
off  the  end  of  his  cigar  with  the  tip  of  his  little  finger,  which 
had  become  calloused  by  reason  of  being  thus  continually  em- 
ployed. 

"  What  shall  you  do  if  the  close  of  the  season  finds  me  a 
bankrupt.  Monsieur?"  he  asked,  placing  his  cigar  again  between 
his  lips  while  he  eyed  the  Frenchman  anxiously.  "  You  know 
that  you  would  lose  your  loan  completely,  for  I  was  able  to 
give  you  little  or  no  security." 

M.  Theuriet  glanced  up  at  that  moment  and  beheld  the 
vision  in  the  doorway. 

Like  some  revivified  creation  of  the  Past,  straight  as  a 
palm,  with  the  witching  grace  of  a  veritable  Hebe  in  face  and 
limb,  Raquel  stood ;  one  arm,  bare  but  for  the  drapery  that  fell 
from  the  shoulder,  held  back  the  gauze  curtain  that  shut  the 
sala  from  the  court.  In  her  luminous  eyes  lay  mingled  all  the 
fire  and  all  the  dreams  born  of  the  clime. 

After  viewing  her  a  moment  in  silent  admiration,  M.  Theu- 
riet said  in  a  tone  which  reached  only  the  father's  ear: 

"  You  are  fortunate  enough,  7non  ami,  to  hav'  one  posses- 
sion which  I  would  be  glad  to  tak'  as  securitee  an'  len'  you 
een  addition  twenty  times  ze  amount.     C'est  vrai  /" 

Gilbert  Palgrave  turned  wonderingly  in  the  direction  indi- 
cated by  M.  Theuriet's  glance,  as  the  Frenchman  rose  to  his 
feet  with  an  alacrity  which  years  had  been  powerless  to  im- 
pair. Puzzled,  not  comprehending  the  full  meaning  of  his 
guest's  words,  Palgrave  watched  Raquel  as  she  advanced,  giv- 
ing to  M.  Theuriet  the  salutation  for  which  he  stood  waiting. 
Her  face  was  troubled.     She  turned  to  her  father  anxiously. 

"  Is  it  as  bad  as  you  picture,  papa  inio  ?"  she  cried  distressed- 
ly.  "Are  we  so  near  bankruptcy  and  you  have  not  told  me? 
I  should  have  been  the  first  to  know." 

"No,  no,  dulce,"  h.e.  reassured  her;  "there  is  nothing  for 
you  to  worry  about.     I  am  in  a  bit  of  a  financial  strait,  but 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  39 

M.  Theuriet  has  been  kind  enough  to  tide  me  over  what  ap- 
pears to  be  the  worst  of  it.  Bestow  your  thanks  upon  him. 
He  has  done  us  great  service." 

"  What  can  I  say  to  him  that  you  have  not  already  said  in 
gratitude?"  she  exclaimed,  all  of  her  old  dislike  for  the  man 
vanishing  before  this  proof  that  he  had  been  obliging  to  her 
father.  "  I  am  certain  that  we  never  can  repay  him  in  full 
measure.     One  can  pay  pesos,  but  not  kindness." 

"  I  intend  to,"  announced  Gilbert  Palgrave,  with  grave  deci- 
sion, "  though  I  caution  him  that  it  ma}'  be  some  time  before  I 
am  able.  However,  we  will  hope  for  the  best.  'It's  a  long 
lane  that  has  no  turning!'  " 

Raquel  bent  her  dark  head  until  her  lovely  face  was  in 
front  of  her  father's.  Compelling  his  eyes  to  look  into  her  dis- 
turbed ones,  she  said  pleadingly  : 

"  You  must  let  me  help  you  pay  these  debts,  papa  viio. 
There  is  nothing  I  would  not  do  to  help  you." 

"  I  know,  dear ;  I  know,"  smiled  Palgrave,  patting  her  cheek 
with  loving  fingers.     "  But  what  is  there  that  you  could  do?" 

"Oh,  I  don't  know!"  she  breathed  hopelessly.  "In  Cuba 
a  woman  can  do  nothing.  Now,  if  we  were  in  your  country 
I  could  work  at  many  things.  All  there  seems  to  be  here  is 
cane  cutting — and  the  blacks  do  that  far  better  than  I  could." 
She  smiled  a  trifle  at  the  thought  of  attempting  such  labor, 
but  the  shadow  did  not  lift  from  her  countenance. 

M.  Theuriet  was  contemplating  her  with  his  sharp,  black 
eyes.  Once  he  opened  his  thin  lips  to  speak,  then  closed 
them  again  tightly. 

"So  the  only  thing  that  you  really  can  do  is  to  make  me 
happy,"  Palgrave  added  convincingly.  "And,  the  way  you 
can  succeed  is  to  be  happy  yourself.  When  I  think  that  you 
are  irked  and  discontented,  I  feel  that  I  have  failed  in  my  life 
work." 

"  Ah,  I  never  will  be  selfish  again,"  she  told  him  contritely. 
"  I  never  v»-ill  complain  more,  yet— I  would  work  for  you,  papa, 
if  only  I  might.  I  could  be  happier  so.  I  am  too  idle.  I  only 
dream." 

"Sometimes,  mademoiselle,  an  opportunitec  comes  before 
one  is  prepared,"  suggested  M.  Theuriet  with  a  peculiar  inlcnt- 
ness  in  his  gaze.  "You  are  full  of  hope ;  you  may  help  him 
mor'  zan  he  fancies.     Who  knows.'" 


30  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Raquel  threw  out  her  hands  with  a  wearied  gesture.  What 
was  the  use  of  hoping  when  she  knew  so  well  what  each  day 
would  bring?  Nothing  new  had  been  brought  for  years.  Her 
sanguine  nature  was  becoming  morbid. 

"Who  knows  anything  here  in  Cuba,  except  that  vSpain 
crushes  us  more  cruelly  every  year?"  she  returned,  stepping 
out  of  the  long  window,  which,  guiltless  of  glass,  opened  its 
iron-barred  jalousies  outward. 

"  That  is  her  pet  grievance,"  explained  her  father  amused- 
ly. "  I  can't  imagine  what  good  she  hopes  to  accomplish  by 
nourishing  it ;  but  it  is  true  she  has  little  to  occupy  her  time. 
Perhaps  she  should  have  been  placed  in  a  convent ;  however, 
I  could  not  have  spared  her." 

"  Pardon,  but  I  could  suggest  a  remedee,"  remarked  the 
Frenchman.  "  At  some  future  day  I  will  tell  you  what  eet  ees, 
eef  you  choose.  Non  ;  to  me  eet  appears  notnecessaire,  now. 
Your  words  hav'  mad'  her  content  for  ze  time  at  least.  You, 
she  idolizes.  To  mak'  you  feel  joy  she  would  deny  herself ; 
ees  eet  not  so?  Oui,  out,  won  ami !  Zat  ees  as  eet  should  be ! 
Eet  ees  filial  lov'.     Eet  should  be  encouraged." 

It  was  growing  late.  With  the  suddenness  peculiar  to  the 
West  Indies,  darkness  was  opening  great,  wide  eyes  over  the 
slumberous  Caribbean  and  its  coral  isles.  The  deep  blue  of 
the  vault  overhead  was  becoming  lit  with  immense  stars  which 
hung  so  near  that  it  seemed  as  if  it  would  be  an  easy  thing  to 
accomplish  the  Spanish  saying,  "  Tomar  el  cielo  con  las  manos," 
to  take  the  sky  with  one's  hands.  Between  the  boughs  which 
met  overhead  she  caught  glimpses  of  these  planets,  and  walked 
with  her  head  tilted  backward,  her  hands  clasped  behind  her, 
until  she  reached  the  river. 

A  tiny  boat-house,  built  of  rich  Indian  woods,  floored  with 
cool  tiles,  and  covered  with  flowering  vines,  had  been  erected 
so  that  it  projected  over  the  stream.  Tied  to  one  of  the  tree 
boles  supporting  the  thatched  roof  of  maguey  was  a  canoe 
which  long  ago  had  been  fashioned  into  suitable  shape  for  her. 
She  stepped  down  into  the  boat  and  pushed  out.  Hedged  in 
by  cane  the  river  wound  its  tortuous  way  through  the  planta- 
tion, past  the  plantain  grove  and  the  negro  quarters,  on  its 
way  to  join  larger  streams  that  drifted  to  the  sea.  During 
the  rainy  season  it  often  became  swollen  to  the  size  of  a 
torrent ;  but  now  it  purled  along  quietly,  caressing  the  sides  of 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  31 

the  canoe  in  a  friendly  manner  as  Raquel  propelled  her  craft 
indolently. 

The  rhythmic  chant  of  the  workers  at  the  mills  reached 
her  ears;  a  mournful  melody  which  lost  by  distance  its  harsh- 
ness, being  blended  with  the  dull  crunching  of  the  cane  and 
the  hum  of  the  engine.  She  could  distinguish  the  cries  of 
the  negroes  at  the  cauldrons:  "  A-a-b'la!  A-a-b'la!  E-c-cha 
candcla  ! "  The  sound  rose  above  the  barbaric  chorus  of  the 
gangs  at  work  filling  the  troughs  with  cane  and  carting  away 
the  crushed  strips  to  spread  out  as  bagazo. 

Half  occupied  in  listening  to  these  rude  melodies,  familiar 
though  they  were,  she  failed  to  notice  that  the  canoe  had  left 
the  middle  of  the  river  and  was  drifting  leisurely  toward  the 
other  bank.  Suddenly  its  gentle  motion  ceased.  Glancing 
backward  in  surprise,  thinking  that  the  boat  had  run  ashore, 
she  found  her  face  in  close  proximity  to  the  rough,  bearded  one 
of  a  man  who  stood  waist-deep  in  the  water,  holding  the  sides 
of  the  canoe. 

Uncertain  at  first  that  it  was  not  a  creature  concocted  by 
her  fearful  fancy,  she  made  only  a  frantic  effort  to  push  the 
craft  from  his  reach ;  then  a  terrorized  cry  rose  to  her  lips, 
but  it  was  crushed  back  by  a  heavy  hand.  The  paddle  was 
wrenched  from  her  grasp  by  another  figure  which  loomed  up 
on  the  other  side  of  her.  The  two  men  dragged  the  boat 
ashore.  Here  they  were  surrounded  by  other  shadowy  forms 
that  stole  out  of  the  cane,  seeming  to  the  frightened  girl  to 
gloat  over  her  capture. 

They  spoke  in  whispers.  Now  and  then  they  indulged  in 
subdued  laughs  at  her  desperate  struggles  to  free  herself. 
They  bound  her  limbs.  They  tied  a  thick  bandage  over  her 
mouth.     She  was  powerless. 

"  Caramba  !  It  is  a  small  tiger  that  we  have  snared '"  com- 
mented one  as,  in  spite  of  her  wild  resistance,  he  took  her  in 
his  arms  and  made  his  way  into  the  safety  of  the  cane. 

"  Es  verdad !"  sl^vc\\\X'S.^  the  others  admiringly.  "  Alarcon 
will  welcome  this  capture,  even  though  it  be  a  woman.  She 
has  the  courage  of  a  man !" 

The  stars  shone  on.  The  water  became  still.  The  palm 
in  the  court  whispered  to  itself  uneasily.  Gilbert  Palgrave 
offered  M.  Theuriet  another  cigar. 


32  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 


CHAPTER   III. 


An  entire  army  might  hide  within  the  green  fastnesses  of 
the  enormous  stretches  of  cane  covering  a  Cuban  sugar  plan- 
tation. 

It  was  with  no  fear  of  discovery  that  the  brigands  had 
tethered  their  horses  therein.  Mounting  their  animals,  the 
party  sped  into  what  seemed  a  rustling  sea  of  shadows. 

Raquel  struggled  vigorously,  and  found  herself  but  held  the 
more  firmly. 

"  Madre  de  Jesii !  She  is  a  little  fighter !"  the  one  who  bore 
her  cried  to  the  man  next  behind  him. 

They  rode  swiftly  but  stealthily.  The  tassels  of  the  cane 
above  their  heads  waved  and  nodded  in  rhythm  with  the  melody 
the  blade  leaves  made,  clashing  against  each  other  in  a  mimic 
war. 

But  Raquel  heard  nothing  of  the  music  of  the  whispering, 
swaying  cane  forest  through  whose  aisles  she  was  borne.  That 
she  was  at  the  mercy  of  one  of  the  lawless  bands  of  refugees 
who  made  their  rendezvous  in  the  mountainous  district  she 
knew  for  a  certainty.  She  had  caught  the  sound  of  a  name 
which  had  power  to  strike  terror  to  every  timid  heart.  To  be 
in  the  grasp  of  Gonzalo  Alarcon's  men  was  held  to  be  enough 
to  curdle  the  blood  of  the  most  courageous  of  captives.  Her 
horror  was  intense  to  the  point  of  agony.  She  knew  that  her 
father  would  beggar  himself  before  he  would  fail  to  raise  any 
sum  that  they  might  demand;  but  her  memory  brought  to 
mind  frightful  atrocities  which  she  knew  often  were  perpe- 
trated upon  such  unfortunate  victims  as  herself  whose  ransom 
might  be  delayed.  The  recollection  of  these  marrow-freezing 
tales  which  she  had  heard  recounted  in  the  cocina  by  the  black 
women,  who  no  doubt  had  embellished  the  stories  to  please 
their  imaginations,  filled  every  step  of  the  journey  with  incon- 
ceivable dread. 

When  the  cavalcade  left  the  protection  of  the  cane  and 
began  an  upward  ascent  Raquel's  hope  died  within  her.  She 
fought  her  captor  with  renewed  energy,  which,  however,  was 
of  little  avail  considering  that  she  was  pinioned  and  unable  to 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  33 

utter  a  sound.  His  laugh  of  amusement  stirred  her  with  im- 
potent fury  that  exhausted  her  without  effecting  her  escape. 

The  hushed  march  went  on. 

At  last  they  struck  the  edge  of  the  forest,  which,  mantling 
the  hills  in  a  tangled  mass  of  green  as  impregnable  as  the 
Chinese  wall  to  one  not  initiated,  offers  retreats  more  secure 
than  buttressed  fortresses. 

The  men  divided.  Two  of  them  went  in  front  of  the  one 
who  carried  Raquel  across  his  high  saddle.  The  others  brought 
up  the  rear. 

A  vivid  flash  cut  the  darkness  for  an  instant,  followed  by  a 
second  flash ;  then  a  steady  light.  The  foremost  riders  bore 
aloft  tapers  of  brown  wax  which  cast  faint  gleams  ahead  into 
the  labyrinth  of  Briarean  arms  that  seemed  to  call  a  voiceless 
halt  to  the  invaders. 

As  they  pushed  on  up  the  precipitous  cliffs  of  green,  turned 
black  beneath  the  alchemic  touch  of  night,  long,  clinging  vines 
wound  themselves  about  the  adventurous  ones  daring  to  pierce 
the  mysteries  of  tropical  jungles.  Cool  leaves  swept  with  lin- 
gering caress  over  the  colorless  face  of  the  girl  prisoner.  Sharp 
weapons  in  the  hands  of  the  horsemen  cut  right  and  left  through 
the  green  growth  which  formed  so  dense  a  barrier  at  every  step 
of  the  way. 

"  Diablo  !  If  we  had  gone  back  by  the  other  route  we  would 
not  have  had  to  carve  our  way  through,"  grumbled  the  second 
brigand  with  dissatisfaction. 

"  Basia,  Jose !"  exclaimed  the  one  who  appeared  to  act  as 
leader.  "  Art  thou  a  nine-lived  cat  that  thou  couldst  afford  to 
run  the  risk  of  having  a  bullet  put  througli  thy  skin  ?  Thou 
dost  hate  exertion  more  than  thou  dost  value  anything,  even 
the  pesetas  which  this  night's  work  will  bring  us." 

"  As  God  wills!"  shrugged  Jose,  with  what  seemed  curious 
irrelevancy.  "  But  I  have  two  eyes,  and  thou  dost  pull  wool 
over  thine  when  thou  hopcst  this  labor  will  net  us  a  centavo, 
Manuel." 

"  PorqiKT  demanded  Manuel,  clasping  his  burden  a  trifle 
more  securely.  "  Don  Gilberto  Palgravc  is  a  rich  man ;  is 
that  not  true?  Of  course!  And  he  will  pay  royally.  If  he 
does  not  we  will  know  how  to  make  him."  He  felt  Raquel 
shiver  apprehensively  in  his  arins. 

"That  is  as  it  may  be,"  agreed  Jose,  "but  is  that  saying 
3 


34  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

that  we  will  get  any  of  it?  To  where  did  the  Molinos  ransom 
go?    Answer  me  that  if  thou  knowest !     /had  none  of  it!" 

"  It  would  all  have  gone  down  thy  throat  if  thou  hadst  had 
it,"  laughed  Manuel,  appealing  to  the  others  to  know  if  his 
words  were  not  the  words  of  a  truth-speaker. 

For  a  few  moments  there  was  a  prospect  of  a  drawn  battle 
between  Manuel,  the  temporary  leader,  and  Jose,  the  insubor- 
dinate, but  the  danger  was  averted  by  the  quick  intervention 
of  the  other  members  of  the  raiding  party.  Jose  went  on  in 
moody  silence. 

Hour  after  hour  passed.  Still  they  kept  the  slow  tread 
through  the  tortuous  forest  ways,  which  were  filled  with  the 
heavy  fragrance  of  the  marvellous  bloom  which  hung  around 
and  above  them  veiled  in  the  darkness.  A  silence  which 
seemed  filled  with  the  respiration  of  countless  forms  of  vege- 
table life  palpitated  about  them.  But  the  men  were  familiar 
with  it.     To  Raquel  alone  did  it  feel  oppressive,  ominous. 

Just  as  the  first  golden  shaft  of  dawn  fell  upon  the  forest, 
penetrating  dimly  through  the  dense,  green  darkness  of  trop- 
ical luxuriance,  the  band  halted  and  dismounted. 

Raquel  was  unbound. 

Bruised  by  the  thongs,  cramped  b}^  the  uncomfortable  posi- 
tion in  which  she  had  been  held  so  long,  the  girl  was  forced  to 
close  her  teeth  upon  her  lip  to  keep  a  little  cry  from  escaping 
her  as  she  drew  herself  to  her  full  stature.  All  of  the  endur- 
ance and  resolution  of  her  nature  came  into  play.  She  was 
determined  that  they  should  discover  neither  fear  nor  suffer- 
ing in  her  demeanor. 

A  peculiar  call  was  given  by  the  leader  of  the  band. 

Pushing  through  what  appeared  to  be  an  impenetrable 
thicket,  Raquel  and  her  captors  faced  a  group  of  half-clad  men 
who,  springing  up  at  the  sight  of  the  returning  party,  crowded 
around  them,  crying  excitedly : 

"  Que  for  tuna  ?" 

"  Good  fortune !"  replied  the  marauders  triumphantly,  fall- 
ing back  to  reveal  the  trembling  but  defiant  girl  in  their  midst. 
"  See  for  yourselves !     Is  it  not  so — no?" 

"  Dios  r  ejaculated  one  of  the  members  of  the  camp  admir- 
ingly. "  Go  summon  Alarcon !"  he  added  to  a  j-outh  at  his 
elbow;  but  the  youth  did  not  move  to  obey  the  bidding. 
Fascinatedly  his  lustrous  eyes  dwelt  on  Raquel's  pale  face, 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  35 

in  which  the  terror  was  apparent  in  spite  of  her  effort  to 
hide  it. 

"Faya,  Zufiega  !"  ordered  the  man  again.  "Goon!  Hast 
thou  not  seen  a  woman  before?  One  would  think  her  a  fer- 
de-lance  by  the  way  thou  dost  stare  at  her !" 

The  long,  black  eyes  of  the  boy  flashed  and  his  thin  nostrils 
expanded  with  the  quick  gasp  one  sometimes  gives  on  awaken- 
ing. He  turned  and  moved  sv/iftly  toward  the  surrounding 
masses  of  undergrowth. 

Raquel  had  heard  the  words.  From  the  row  of  peering 
faces  in  front  of  her  the  eyes  of  the  youth  had  looked  upon  her 
with  none  of  the  expression  that  the  countenances  of  his  com- 
panions wore.  She  read  in  his  surprised  gaze  something  that 
she  took  to  be  pity,  and,  snatching  at  even  this  faint  hope, 
she  watched  his  graceful  body  swinging  as  lightly  as  a  panther 
across  the  space  of  the  clearing.  His  wavy,  blue-black  hair 
tossed  with  his  rapid  movements;  his  gold-tinted  physique 
was  perfectly  molded.  He  seemed  a  reincarnated  faun  as  he 
darted  into  the  mysterious  alleys  of  the  forest.  Anxiously 
she  waited  his  reappearing.  He  came  in  company  with  a  stal- 
wart figure  that  strode  toward  the  group  with  the  imperious- 
ness  of  a  commander.  She  knew  that  she  looked  upon  the 
most  dreaded  man  among  the  mountain  bandits.  With  eyes 
rendered  keen  by  fear  she  studied  him  as  he  approached. 

Instead  of  the  monster  she  had  anticipated  she  beheld  an 
imposing  man,  but  one  in  whose  face  lurked  none  of  the  hid- 
eous cruelty  she  had  supposed  was  inseparable  from  his  daily 
countenance.  Had  she  met  him  anywhere  save  in  the  depths 
of  this  forest  surrounded  by  his  sworn  followers  she  would  have 
set  him  down  as  a  courtier  of  exceptional  manners.  His  glance 
was  austere,  his  air  masterful ;  clad  in  the  habiliments  of  some 
former  captive,  he  was  as  far  removed  from  what  she  had  ex- 
pected as  a  man  well  could  be.  She  was  conscious  that  her 
courage  revived  in  a  wonderful  degree.  Her  utter  lack  of 
knowledge  of  the  world  was  responsible  for  her  belief  that 
scoundrelism  and  a  gentlemanly  air  of  breeding  are  incompat- 
ible. That  she  had  less  to  fear  than  she  had  thought,  his  first 
words  seemed  to  prove.  After  his  deep  glance  at  her,  a  glance 
that  she  felt  had  reached  through  and  beyond  her,  he  demanded 
with  evident  dissatisfaction : 

"  Is  this  as  much  as  you  men  are  capable  of — after  all  this 


36  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

waiting?  Where  is  the  game  you  meant  to  bag?  We  have  no 
time  to  waste  with  small  captures,  and  above  all — with 
women." 

"  But,  Comandante,  her  father  is  Palgrave,  the  sugar  plant- 
er," explained  Manuel,  the  leader  of  the  capturing  party.  "  She 
will  bring  a  heavy  ransom.  Old  Theuriet  escaped  us,  and 
while  we  watched  for  him  this  muchacha  slipped  right  into 
our  hands.  It  seemed  a  shame  not  to  take  her.  We  can  cap- 
ture the  Frenchman  another  time." 

"Bah!  Who  can  tell  of  to-morrow?"  returned  Alarcon. 
"  You  have  been  watching  him  for  weeks.  He  would  have 
been  worth  taking.  He  is  an  old  coward,  fond  of  luxury  and 
life.  He  would  have  given  half  his  estate  for  escape  from  Gon- 
zalo  Alarcon.     This  seiiorita  will  be  more  trouble  than  gain." 

"  She  is  all  that  he  has.  He  will  pay  any  sum  for  her,"  de- 
clared Manuel.  "  You  will  find  that  my  words  are  true,  sefior 
mio  !" 

Manuel's  assertion  caused  Raquel  to  forget  both  timidity 
and  exhaustion. 

"  He  is  not  telling  you  the  truth,  Seiior  Alarcon,"  she  cried 
excitedly.  "  My  father  is  not  able  to  pay  even  a  small  ransom. 
The  ingenio  is  mortgaged  now  to  its  fullest  extent.  He  can 
get  no  more  money  from  the  Catalans,  and  he  has  had  to  bor- 
row from  old  Monsieur  Theuriet  to  pay  interest  on  the  mort- 
gage. He  fears  that  he  can  not  pull  through  this  year,  seiior, 
— how  then  can  he  pay  one  centavo  for  ransom?  Your  eyes 
are  not  cruel,  Seiior  Alarcon ;  surely  you  would  not  wish  to 
make  him  a  pauper !  Would  you  harm  one  who  would  fight 
for  Cuba  if  need  be?" 

Gonzalo  Alarcon's  stern  eyes  dilated.  He  fell  back  a  step 
involuntarily. 

"  Is  3^our  father  against  Spain?"  he  demanded,  with  surprise. 
For  a  man  to  dare  to  take  such  a  stand  in  Cuba  would  be  sui- 
cide almost.  It  was  small  wonder  that  the  guerrilla  chief 
viewed  her  with  amazement. 

"  No,  seiior ;  but  I  am !" 

Standing  there  in  the  midst  of  these  mountain  men,  her 
long,  white  draperies  loosened  by  her  struggles,  her  dusky 
hair  dishevelled,  she  looked  so  fragile  and  so  tender  that  the 
almost  imperceptible  smile  which  crossed  Alarcon's  face  was 
permissible.     He  bowed  low  before  her. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  37 

"  I  am  glad  that  there  is  one  soul  in  Cuba  fearless  enough 
to  assert  itself,"  he  said  admiringly.  "  Consider  Gonzalo  Alar- 
con  and  his  men  your  slaves." 

"  Were  I  a  man,  as  Our  Holy  Mother  of  Sorrows  knows  I 
would  I  were.  I  would  not  allow  you  to  send  for  ransom,"  she 
went  on  passionately.  "  I  would  join  your  band ;  I  would  urge 
you  not  to  fight  for  petty  spoil  but  for  Cuba's  freedom.  With 
such  a  grand  issue  at  stake  how  can  you  spend  your  time  in 
wrenching  ransom  from  innocent  captives?  Though  I  am  a 
woman  I  yearn  to  be  doing  the  work  that  you  might  do— if  you 
would.  I  would  never  rest.  I  would  devote  my  all  to  the  hope 
of  liberty  for  the  island.  You,  in  whose  hands  lies  the  power 
to  aid  your  country,  content  yourself  with  an  ignoble  occupa- 
tion, robbing  your  fellow-men  of  liberty  and  fortune." 

Gonzalo  Alarcon  motioned  his  men  away.  He  folded  his 
arms  across  his  breast  and  regarded  her  with  a  gaze  that  nar- 
rowed and  deepened  as  he  listened  to  her  words.  He  never 
had  encountered  a  captive  of  similar  dauntlessness.  She  in- 
terested him. 

"  Bueno y  santo  !"  he  said  with  an  assumption  of  submission. 
"  You  would  urge  me  to  throw  myself  and  men  into  the  strug- 
gle for  what  never  will  come  to  Cuba — liberty !  How  do  you 
know,  scfiorita  viia,  but  that  is  what  we  are  doing?  Do  you 
suppose  that  we  proclaim  our  plans  from  the  house-tops?" 

Raquel  hesitated.  The  man's  manner  puzzled  her.  She 
was  amazed  at  her  own  temerity  in  addressing  him  as  .she  had, 
and  more  amazed  at  his  reception  of  her  words.  She  looked 
at  him  questioningly,  wondering  how  it  was  that  this  gentle 
brigand  had  acquired  so  unenviable  a  reputation  throughout 
the  island. 

"  But  you  are  said  to  be  merciless  and  mercenary,"  she  told 
him  slowly.  "  You  can  not  have  the  interest  of  Cuba  at  heart 
when  you  seize  her  people  and  hold  them  for  ransom  that  they 
cannot  afford  to  give  without  impoverishing  themselves.  I 
never  have  heard  that  you  were  suspected  of  cherishing  revo- 
lutionary intentions.  Yrm  are  known  simply  as  Alarcon,  the 
brigand,  not  the  patriot." 

The  man's  face  flushed  darkly  under  its  coat  of  bronze. 
This  being  called  to  account  by  a  prisoner  was  a  novel  expe- 
rience to  a  man  who  wielded  such  power  as  the  brigand  leader 
did;  but  its  very  unusualness  made  it  attractive  to  him. 


38  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  No ;  you  never  have  heard  and  you  never  will  hear  of  one 
tenth  of  the  brave  souls  who  have  given  and  will  give  their 
lives  for  the  vain  hope  of  Cuban  emancipation,"  he  said.  "  You 
count  that  giving  your  father's  all  would  be  forfeiting  too  much 
for  the  cause.  The  men  who  follow  me  have  done  more  ;  their 
lives  are  Cuba's." 

He  watched  the  effect  of  his  utterance  on  Raquel.  A  swift 
change  went  over  her  face.  For  the  instant  she  forgot  her 
perilous  position  in  her  delight  at  finding  that  the  mountain 
nourished  a  band  of  men  thrilling  with  a  hope  like  her  own. 

"  So  would  I  give  mine,  seiior !"  she  cried.  "  I  would  devote 
everything  to  it !" 

"  Yet  you  declare  that  no  ransom  must  be  demanded  of 
your  father,  though  you  must  know  that  the  sum  which  you 
bring  us  will  go  into  the  exchequer  destined  to  secure  Cuba's 
liberty.  This  is  our  only  way  of  obtaining  supplies  for  these 
forest  soldiers.  We  cannot  tax  the  people  as  Spain  does  to 
feed  and  pay  her  army  that  she  sets  over  Cubans  to  keep  them 
in  subjection.  All  we  can  do  is  to  insist  that  those  whom  we 
take  as  prisoners  shall  pay  us  enough  to  enable  us  to  add  to  the 
fund  which  eventually  is  to  free  the  entire  island  from  her 
tyrant."  Alarcon  was  an  astute  student  of  men — and  women 
as  well.  He  could  anticipate  the  impression  which  these  sen- 
tences would  make  upon  her,  and  he  was  not  disappointed  in 
his  estimate  of  her  character.  She  had  shown  him  with  her 
first  words  where  her  sympathies  lay,  and  he  was  far  too  clever 
not  to  keep  in  the  line  with  them. 

"  I  would  not  demur  if  there  were  none  but  m^'self  to  con- 
sider," she  declared,  with  a  despairing  gesture  of  her  hands. 
"  Gladly  would  I  give  my  life  to  carry  on  the  hope  to  fulfill- 
ment; but  my  father,  he  cannot  raise  one  peso,  senor!  I  speak 
the  truth.  If  the  plantation  must  be  forfeited  to  win  my  free- 
dom there  will  be  no  place  for  the  blacks  to  go — there  even 
will  be  no  roof  to  cover  our  heads.  Be  merciful,  seiior!  It  is 
a  poor  system  to  secure  Cuba's  freedom  by  making  her  daugh- 
ters sacrifice  theirs !" 

Over  the  chief's  countenance  had  been  creeping  a  change. 
Into  his  eyes  had  stolen  a  cunning;  the  hard  lines  of  his  face 
softened  beneath  the  power  of  a  thought  that  made  him  say 
with  the  persuasive  flattery  common  to  southern  tongues : 

"  And  the  senorita  laments  that  she  is  not  a  man !    What 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  39 

feminine  ignorance  !  God  knows  that  there  is  many  a  woman's 
heart  in  Cuba  capable  of  accomplishing  more  than  its  men  ever 
will.  It  is  a  pity  that  you  are  not  what  you  so  ardently  desire 
to  be.  I  need  svich  as  you  woi;ld  prove.  Believe  my  words 
that  it  was  not  by  my  orders  that  you  were  seized  ;  but,  since 
you  are  here,  it  scarcely  would  be  wise  to  permit  so  needed  a 
prize  to  escape.  We  men  of  the  mountains  niust  live  ;  and  we 
also  must  supply  ourselves  with  ammunition  against  the  day 
when  we  shall  rise  in  might  to  drive  the  Spaniards  from  the 
island.     Those  who  enter  oiir  domains  must  be  ransomed  or — " 

There  was  a  pause,  during  which  she  looked  anxiously  into 
his  face  for  a  hint  of  what  was  coming.  She  nerved  herself  to 
receive  the  alternative  without  flinching. 

" — or  they  must  join  us." 

"  But  that — I  cannot!"'  she  cried,  with  a  little  bewildered 
gasp. 

"No?"  he  queried  calmly.     "  Forgud?" 

"  Of  what  use  should  I  be?"  Unmitigated  wonderment  was 
in  her  voice  and  eyes. 

"  Have  you  lived  so  little  that  you  do  not  know  that  often 
it  is  the  power  behind  the  throne  that  controls?"  He  asked 
the  question  with  a  look  that  made  his  eyes  soft  and  powerful. 
"  Know  you  so  little  of  the  history  of  man  and  nations?" 

"  Know?  How  should  I  know?"  demanded  she.  Into  her 
face  flashed  new  fears  which  her  resolute  spirit  could  not  ban- 
ish. There  was  something  in  Alarcon's  look  against  which  she 
felt  herself  fighting  blindly.  She  realized  afreirh  her  helpless- 
ness and  dependence.  His  proffered  alternative,  instead  of 
showing  her  the  power  of  woman,  revealed  to  her  how  com- 
pletely at  his  mercy  she  was.  Here  was  the  seeming  oppor- 
tunity to  help  Cuba  which  she  had  craved,  but,  rising  up  in 
wildest  opposition  to  it,  was  the  love  for  her  father  which 
stormed  within  her.  The  island's  future  sunk  into  insignifi- 
cance before  the  awful  prospect  of  being  separated  from  him. 
All  of  her  courage  was  gone.  She  shivered  with  apprehen- 
siou. 

Gonzalo  Alarcon  took  a  quick  step  forward. 

"  You  have  seen  nothing?"  questioned  he  meaningly.  "  I 
can  see  that  you  long  to  live— to  conquer.  It  has  l^een  women 
like  you  who  have  urged  men  on  to  achieve  great  deeds  that 
would  have  remained  undone  but  for  their  inspiration.    Women 


40  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

like  you  make  Cuba's  freedom  possible.  In  your  eyes — deep 
down — one  can  read  the  thirst.  I  will  lead  you  to  victorie& 
Will  you  follow.?" 

Raquel's  eyes  indeed  now  burned  with  an  odd  intensity. 
She  was  frightened  by  those  black  ones  which  held  hers  by  a 
spell  which  seemed  sapping  her  volition.  The  scene  about 
her  appeared  to  revolve  with  lightning  rapidity.  Only  that 
unfamiliar  face  with  its  strange  smile  stood  out  before  her 
vision.     She  was  conscious  that  he  still  spoke  to  her. 

"  I  will  go  for  the  ransom  myself,  seiiorita.  Failing  to 
secure  that,  you  are  to  become  one  of  us — and  you  shall  rule, 
rule  even  me,  Gonzalo  Alarcon." 

Raquel's  reply  was  only  the  frightened  quickening  of  her 
breath. 

How  dear  the  safety  and  monotonous  peace  of  La  Sacra 
Sonrisa  seemed  as  she  realized  that,  even  if  ransomed,  the 
walls  of  the  old  hacienda  could  shelter  her  no  more ;  her  ran- 
som would  place  the  plantation  in  the  grasp  of  strangers.  She 
reeled  at  the  thought  and  put  out  her  hands  vaguely,  ignorant 
that  the  relief  of  temporary  unconsciousness  was  coming  to 
her  aid. 

The  chief  saw  the  movement  and  caught  her  fingers  in  his 
own. 

"  You  are  tired,  seiiorita !"  he  exclaimed,  with  self-re- 
proach. "  Your  courage  made  me  forget  that  you  have  not 
the  endurance  of  a  man." 

But  his  hold  on  her  was  not  sufficient  to  prevent  her  from 
slipping  downward  limply  with  white  face.  The  strength  pro- 
duced by  her  momentary  courage  had  vanished.  All  of  the 
terror  and  exhaustion  which  she  had  suffered  now  showed  in 
her  face.  Alarcon  drew  her  forcibly  up  into  his  arms  for  a 
moment,  while  he  curiously  inspected  her  pale  features. 

"  Caspita  !     What  a  daring  little  one  she  is !"  he  murmured. 

As  he  placed  her  on  the  soft  forest  carpet,  he  glanced  about 
him  and  discovered  Zufiega  crossing  the  open  space  with  a  sad- 
dle on  his  shoulder. 

"  Hola,  Zuiiega !     Call  Annizae !"  Alarcon  ordered. 

As  if  the  entire  camp  had  been  watching,  the  summons  was 
obeyed  by  each  and  all.  Two  women  crowded  forward  eager- 
ly.    To  the  foremost  one  the  chief  said  authoritatively : 

"  Take  charge  of  her!     She  is  not  to  be  out  of  your  sight." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  41 

The  woman,  tall  and  muscular,  bent  over  the  outstretched 
form  of  Raquel,  then  glanced  up  at  Alarcon  questioningly. 

"  She  is  exhausted,"  explained  the  chief.  "  She  must  have 
the  best  of  care."  The  other  woman  went  and  peered  down 
over  Annizae's  shoulder.  The  indubitable  beauty  of  the  girl 
appeared  to  excite  her.  She  also  glanced  up  at  the  chief,  but 
the  expression  of  her  eyes  was  quite  different  from  that  which 
had  been  given  by  Annizae. 

"  Is  she  to  be  ransomed?"  she  demanded  in  an  undertone  of 
Alarcon. 

"  What  is  that  to  you,  Faquita?"  asked  he  carelessly. 

"  What  is  it  not  to  me?"  she  retorted. 

Alarcon  placed  one  finger  under  her  chin  and  lifted  it  teas- 
ingly. 

"  Jealous  again.>"  he  inquired.  "  Does  a  woman  never  learn 
that  jealousy  is  death  to  love?" 

The  eyes  of  Faquita  smouldered  beneath  their  heavy  lids. 

Annizae  had  picked  Raquel  up  lightly  in  her  strong  arms 
and  now  carried  her  through  the  green  network  from  which 
the  chief  had  advanced. 

Faquita  followed  her. 

Gonzalo  Alarcon  joined  his  men,  inquiring  into  the  full  par- 
ticulars of  the  capture. 

"  It  is  little  gold  that  we  will  get  from  it,"  he  told  them,  in- 
tentionally belittling  their  success.  "  M.  Theuriet  would  have 
been  a  mine  to  us." 

Here  arose  a  chorus  of  voices  proclaiming  how  great  was 
the  estate  called  La  Sacra  Sonrisa,  and  how  indefatigable 
were  the  sugar  mills. 

Alarcon  listened  in  silence  for  a  time,  then  he  said  im- 
patiently: 

"  For  all  that,  Seiior  Palgrave  may  not  be  able  to  procure 
sufficient  pesos  to  ransom  his  daughter;  and  we  shall  have 
another  woman  in  camp." 

The  men  glanced  from  under  their  lids  significantly  at  each 
other.  "Who  goes  for  the  ransom.  Comandante?"  queried 
Jose,  striking  his  spurs  together  reflectively  as  he  sat  on  the 
felled  trunk  of  one  of  the  forest  monarchs. 

"  Don  Gonzalo  knows  better  than  to  send  thee.  Jose," 
laughed  Manuel  provokingly.  "  Thou  wouldst  sleep  and  for- 
get thy  mission." 


4*  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  I  pray  he  sends  not  me,"  returned  Jose  without  show  of 
anger.  "  It  is  too  perilous.  Zunega  is  most  cat-like.  He 
could  pin  the  threats  on  Seiior  Palgrave's  pillow  with  ten 
knives  and  none  would  hear  him." 

"  Zunega  is  to  be  placed  as  guard  over  the  girl,"  announced 
Alarcon  with  decision.     "  I  myself  will  go  for  the  ransom." 

"Diablo!  Before  the  threats  have  been  delivered?"  ex- 
claimed the  men.  "  Do  you  forget  the  price  of  ten  thousand 
pesos  set  on  your  head,  Comandante?" 

"I  forget  nothing,"  answered  Alarcon  quietly.  "If  it  is 
possible  to  secure  gold,  you  know  well  that  I  am  the  one  to  do 
it.  I  will  go  alone.  Twenty  of  you  station  ^^ourselves  at  the 
Paso  del  Diablo  the  night  of  the  morrow.  I  will  summon  you 
from  there  when  I  need  you." 

Despite  the  evident  camaraderie  which  existed  between 
Goij-zalo  Alarcon  and  his  men,  gathered  from  man}'  sources, 
he  never  failed  to  make  himself  obeyed.  His  was  a  motley 
company  that  required  of  no  man  his  past.  The  invincible 
will  of  Alarcon  ruled. 

Preparations  were  made  for  his  departure.  After  the  camp 
breakfast  with  its  fragrant  coffee  had  been  disposed  of,  the 
lithe  Cuban  horse  which  always  carried  the  chief  was  duly 
caparisoned.  In  vivid  contrast  with  the  general  properties  of 
the  camp,  the  gaily  embroidered  saddle-cloth  on  which  the 
high-peaked  Spanish  saddle  was  placed  shone  against  the 
sombre  background  of  the  forest  with  something  of  barbaric 
splendor.  Zuiiega  stood  at  the  head  of  the  animal,  caressing 
it  with  the  tenderness  one  bestows  on  a  beloved  object. 

Alarcon  was  conferring  with  Annizae,  in  whose  charge  he 
intended  to  leave  Raquel.  At  breakfast,  in  the  presence  of  the 
camp,  he  had  commissioned  Zuiiega  to  act  in  the  capacity  of 
guard,  supplementing  Annizae's  watchful  care.  Zunega  had 
received  his  orders  with  eyes  that  gave  no  evidence  of  the 
tremor  which  shook  him  at  this  proof  of  the  faith  reposed  in 
him.  That  the  post  had  been  coveted  by  other  members  of 
the  camp  was  shown  by  the  signs  of  disapproval  with  which 
his  appointment  was  accepted,  disapproval  which  quickly  was 
silenced  by  Alarcon's  lightning  glance.  It  did  not  take  a  great 
amount  of  perception  to  acquaint  them  with  Alarcon's  deci- 
sion that,  failing  in  securing  the  ransom,  the  new  acquisition 
to  his  band  would  be  a  satisfactory  one  so  far  as  he  was  con- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  43 

cerned.  despite  his  assertion  that  the  feminine  element  in  a 
guerrilla  camp  was  more  trouble  than  gain. 

When  Alarcon  came  to  mount  he  viewed  the  trappings  of 
his  caballo  with  disfavor.  He  had  them  removed  and  an  in- 
conspicuous blanket  placed  in  lieu  of  the  saddle-cloth. 

"  When  the  Spanish  goverament  is  anxious  for  a  man  it  is 
well  for  that  man  to  attract  little  attention,"  he  remarked 
grimly,  as  he  swung  himself  into  position  on  his  horse's 
back. 

"  Adios,  liombres .'" 

"  Adios !  Adios!  Vaya  usted  con  Dios .'"  cried  the  members 
of  the  camp,  as  he  rode  off  into  the  emerald  wall  surrounding 
them.  "  God  go  with  you !"  And  they  appeared  to  see  noth- 
ing absurd  in  the  hope  that  the  High  Ruler  of  the  universe 
would  assist  Alarcon  in  his  nefarious  design  of  exacting  the 
impossible  from  Gilbert  Palgrave. 

Zuiiega  watched  the  moving  horseman  as  far  as  the  green 
forest  veil  would  permit. 

An  unanalyzed  feeling  of  exultation  was  in  his  heart. 

He  turned  and  went  with  supple  step  to  begin  his  duties  as 
jailer. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

When  Raquel's  absence  was  discovered,  the  wildest  ex- 
citement reigned  at  the  ingenio.  The  devastation  which  the 
horses'  feet  had  created  in  the  cane  left  little  doubt  to  be  en- 
tertained as  to  what  fate  had  befallen  the  beloved  one  of  the 
plantation. 

Frantic  with  fear,  Palgrave  got  his  men  together  hastily, 
leaving  a  few  boys  and  decrepit  negroes  to  watch  over  the  fur- 
nace fires.  Double  affliction  was  his  in  this  enforced  idleness 
which  would  fall  upon  the  mill  and  fields  right  in  the  height 
of  the  grinding  season,  when  forces  should  have  been  kept  at 
work  night  and  day  in  order  to  complete  the  work  within  the 
usual  four  months.  He  realized  fully  what  this  loss  of  time 
meant  to  him  and  his  sugar  crop ;  but  there  was  no  alternative. 
Raquel  must  be  found  and  wrested  from  her  captors. 

M.  Theuriet,  as  anxious  as  his  neighbor,  summoned  all  of 
the  available  blacks  from  his  coffee  estate,  and,  at  their  head, 


44  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

presented  himself  at  La  Sacra  Sonrisa,  subject  to  the  orders  of 
the  bereft  father. 

Leaving  the  wellnigh  deserted  plantation  lying  lonesomely 
beneath  the  midnight  sky,  the  two  cavalcades  followed  the 
course  left  by  the  tread  of  the  abductors'  horses.  Palgrave 
knew  that  it  would  have  been  wiser  to  have  waited  for  dawn, 
but  the  terrible  pressure  of  Raquel's  need  would  not  permit 
him  to  delay  one  second  longer  than  necessity  demanded  for 
making  preparations  to  rescue  her. 

In  the  edge  of  the  forest  the  two  companies  separated, 
taking  different  routes  in  the  hope  of  circumventing  the 
rascals. 

The  tangles  and  dense  growth  of  fecund  tropical  vegetation 
balked  their  progress  continually.  To  their  untrained  eyes  the 
mysterious  ways  through  which  they  pushed  laboriously  were 
misleading  in  the  extreme.  What  with  the  darkness  of  the 
heavens  and  the  gruesome  blackness  of  this  wanton  plant 
luxuriation  they  finally  were  forced  to  pause  and  wait  for 
day,  relaxing  none  in  vigilance  lest  they  might  be  attacked 
by  some  of  the  dauntless  denizens  to  whom  this  intricate 
mountain  labyrinth  was  home.  To  the  tense  nerves  of  Gil- 
bert Palgrave  it  seemed  as  if  he  could  hear  the  winging  flight 
of  the  precious  moments,  so  oppressively  still  was  nature's 
vast  cathedral.  And  yet  there  was  a  constant  murmur  of 
growth  in  the  air.  Everything  was  thrilling  with  the  vitality 
of  a  rich  life;  but  there  was  an  odor,  warm,  damp,  which 
chilled  him,  as  if  the  wind  of  destiny  had  blown  to  him  from 
off  Death's  pallid  face. 

With  the  first  suggestion  of  sunlight  to  aid  them  they  took 
up  the  interrupted  search.  As  day  grew  their  eyes  perceived 
that  overhead  hung  canopies  of  vines  flung  from  tree  to  tree, 
tapestries  of  a  million  hues  interwoven. 

Through  the  long  hours  that  followed  ere  another  night 
shut  down,  they  scoured  the  forest  as  well  as  they  were  able, 
unfamiliar  as  they  were  with  its  secrets.  Long  ago  they  had 
lost  the  trail  of  the  brigands,  but  still  they  kept  on,  hoping 
against  hope.  Palgrave  trusted  that  M.  Theuriet  had  been 
more  fortunate  than  he.  The  thought  that  the  Frenchman 
possibly  might  have  stumbled  into  the  proper  route  secured 
him  against  utter  discouragement  as  the  fruitless  moments 
crept  by. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  45 

When  the  second  night  stole  up  shadow-like  from  the  edge 
of  the  distant  sea,  he  felt  himself  no  nearer  her. 

"  God  in  Heaven  !     What  is  to  be  done?"  he  cried  in  despair. 

Suddenly  the  sound  of  voices  reached  their  ears,  accom- 
panied by  the  crash  of  underbrush.  His  men  threw  themselves 
into  an  attitude  of  defence. 

"  Thank  the  Lord!"  he  breathed  joyously.  "  We  have  run 
across  their  path." 

But  in  another  instant  he  caught  IM.  Theuriet's  unmistak- 
able pronunciation,  which,  despite  his  many  years  in  the 
country,  still  retained  its  distinctive  Gallic  features. 

"  Cuidado,  homines r   the  Frenchman   was  cautioning  the 
foremost.     "  Tak'  care !     We  mus'  niov*  wiz  sure  steps.     To 
remain  zere  anozer  night  will  be  folly,  but  too  much  haste 
.may  be  disastrous  as  well." 

Gilbert  Palgrave  knew  then  with  sinking  heart  how  wholly 
vain  had  been  the  effort  to  wrench  Raquel  from  the  hands  that 
held  her.  Doubtless,  for  fear  of  pursuit,  the  guerrillas  had 
borne  her  far  beyond  his  most  persistent  seeking. 

He  raised  his  voice  and  called  to  M.  Theuriet,  urging  his 
horse  forward  as  he  did  so. 

As  they  met,  the  combined  yellow  glare  of  the  many  can- 
dles, each  black  now  being  the  bearer  of  one  as  the  darkness 
deepened,  threw  the  haggard  countenance  of  the  father  and 
the  sallow,  wrinkled  visage  of  the  coffee  planter  into  relief 
against  the  background  of  the  forest  foliage. 

Each  viewed  the  other  with  keen  disappointment, 

"  We  must  have  been  moving  in  circles,"  said  Palgrave,  with 
a  hopeless  cadence  in  his  speech. 

"  To  my  mind,  ze  most  senseeble  course  to  pairsue,  now 
zat  all  trace  of  zem  we  hav'  lost,  ees  to  return  to  ze  plantaceon 
and  await "  began  M.  Theuriet. 

"  And  leave  her  in  the  hands  of  those  devils?"  cried  the 
father  with  fierce  opposition,  though  he  also  was  aware  that 
it  was  useless  to  wander  thus  blindly  through  the  mazes  of  the 
mountain  vegetation. 

"  Mais — but  what  bettair  can  we?"  questioned  the  coffee 
planter  anxiously.  "  Zis  expediceon  ees  useless,  n'est-ce  pas  ? 
Cairtainlee  we  can  call  for  aid  in  ze  shape  of  ze  guardia  civile, 
or — " 

"  Yes,  but  what  may  be  her  fate  in  the  mean  time  1"  inter- 


46  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

rupted  Palgrave  wildly.  "  Do  you  forget  the  national  trait? 
I  only  shall  have  ' manana,  juafiana,'  that  everlasting  crj'  of 
the  Spaniard,  breathed  into  my  ears — that  is  all !" 

"  Pardon,  mon  ami,  you  hav'  not  pairmit  me  to  complet' 
mon  sentence,"  observed  M.  Theuriet  apologetically.  "  Ze 
first  move  zat  ze  brigands  will  be  likelee  to  mak'  will  be  to  de- 
mand an  enormous  ransom, — ees  eet  not  so?  Pairfectlee. 
Bien,  eef  zat  be  forthcoming,  well  and  good!  You  will  hav' 
Raquelita  returned  to  La  Sacra  Sonrisa.  But  eef  eet  be  ab- 
sent or  difficile  to  appear,  you  may  receiv'  occasional  remind- 
airs  ov  her  een  ze  shape  ov  fractions  ov  her  pairson." 

"  Satan  take  your  diabolical  tongue !"  groaned  Palgrave  dis- 
tractedly. "  Do  you  desire  to  drive  me  mad?  Do  you  think 
that,  during  these  terrible  hours  I  have  not  recalled  every 
atrocious  violence  that  I  ever  heard  was  committed  by  them?  I 
mean  to  find  her  if  it  takes  the  rest  of  my  life,  God  helping  me !" 

"  But,  zay  hav'  anticipated  pairsuit  and,  wherever  zay  are. 
hav'  fortified  zemselves  against  attack,"  M.  Theuriet  argued. 
"  Are  zay  not  sartain  to  be  well  armed?  Zare  ees  but  one  zing 
to  do." 

Gilbert  Palgrave's  face  grew  whiter.  He  knew  how  im- 
possible that  one  thing  would  be.  He  thrust  his  spurs  reck- 
lessly into  his  horse's  sides  and  plunged  rashly  down  the  pre- 
cipitous path  which  turned  in  the  direction  of  the  valley.  His 
men  followed  quickly.  After  a  quarter  of  an  hour  he  paused 
and  allowed  the  Frenchman  to  urge  his  animal  abreast. 

"  What  on  earth  am  I  to  do,  Theuriet?"  he  asked  helpless- 
ly. "  My  hands  practically  are  tied  when  it  comes  to  the  ques- 
tion of  raising  a  ransom.  None  know  better  than  you  how 
difficult,  how  fruitless  will  be  the  effort  to  secure  gold,  situated 
as  I  now  am.  If  you  recollect,  we  were  discussing  my  position 
when  she  disappeared  from  the  sala." 

"  I  remember,"  assented  Theuriet  with  a  sigh.  With  Pal- 
grave's confession  of  utter  inability  to  cope  with  this  serious 
monetary  problem,  the  Frenchman's  face  had  undergone  a 
subtle  change  that  the  shadows  of  the  coming  night  concealed. 
"  Ov  cours'  eet  will  be  out  ov  ze  posseebl'  for  you  to  furnish 
much  gold  quicklee;  but  for  ze  sak'  ov  our  long  friendsheep 
an'  also  for  ze  sak'  ov  ze  belle  mademoiselle  who  ees  dear  to 
me  I  am  more  zan  willing  to  advance  any  sum  ov  which  you 
may  hav'  need." 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  47 

Gilbert  Palgrave's  countenance  turned  a  purplish  tinge. 
He  appeared  to  reel  in  his  saddle  for  an  instant.  The  par- 
simony of  M.  Theuriet  was  well  known.  Not  for  a  moment 
had  Palgrave  thought  that  the  Frenchman  would  propose  to 
place  him  under  additional  indebtedness,  knowing  as  Theuriet 
did  the  Englishman's  inability  to  give  him  satisfactory  secu- 
rity. The  father  leaned  down  and  forward,  looking  into  the 
face  of  Theuriet  with  doubting  eyes. 

"  Do  my  ears  play  me  false?"  he  demanded  sharply.  "  Do 
you  jest  with  me?" 

"  Nevair  befor'  was  I  so  een  earnest,"  swore  M.  Theuriet 
emphatically. 

"  Have  you  thought  what  your  offer  may  bring  upon  you?" 
Palgrave  asked  anxiously.  "  It  may  cripple  you  seriously.  It 
will  be  long  before  I  can  repay  you.  Have  you  thought  of 
that?" 

"  Cairtainlee !  I  hav'  thought  of  all,"  replied  Theuriet 
calmly. 

Palgrave  drew  a  long  breath.  He  had  been  almost  afraid 
to  ask  the  Frenchman  to  reconsider  his  proposition,  yet  his 
sense  of  fairness  would  not  permit  him  to  accept  the  generos- 
ity of  his  neighbor  without  reminding  him  what  a  precarious 
loan  it  was  likely  to  prove. 

"  I  would  rather  die  than  permit  you  to  make  such  a  sacri- 
fice for  me,"  he  declared  warmly,  "  but  I  see  nothing  else  for 
me  to  do;  my  death  would  be  productive  of  nothing.  With 
life,  however,  there  is  a  prospect  that  in  a  few  years  I  may 
be  able  to  discharge  my  indebtedness.  Until  then  your  only 
reward  will  be  in  the  consciousness  of  having  performed  a 
most  noble  deed." 

"  You  hav'  ze  opportunitee  ov  repaying  me  at  once  and  also 
ov  cancelling  all  previous  indebtedness  eef  you  but  choose  to 
say  ze  word,"  returned  M.  Theuriet.  He  spoke  not  quite  as 
calmly  now.  There  was  a  hint  of  repression  in  his  voice,  but 
the  words  themselves  were  electrical  enough  to  claim  the  at- 
tention of  their  hearer. 

Palgrave  looked  at  him  in  questioning  silence  for  some  mo- 
ments, during  which  he  was  endeavoring  to  fathom  the  mean- 
ing of  the  statement.     At  length  he  said  slowly: 

"  I  do  not  comprehend." 

"  Do  you  not  recall,  mon  ami,"  explained  Theuriet,  moisten- 


48  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

ing  his  lips  as  he  spoke,  "  when  we  were  talking  ov  securitee  I 
said  zat  you  had  one  possession  which  I  would  be  willing  to 
take  as  securitee  and  lend  you  many  pesos  more?" 

"  Yes,"  answered  Palgrave  cautiously.  "  It  was  just  as 
Raquel  entered.  I  intended  to  ask  you,  after  she  went  out, 
to  what  you  referred;  but  it  went  out  of  my  mind." 

M.  Theuriet  smiled. 

"  Zat  was  ze  security  to  which  I  referred,"  he  murmured. 

"  The  devil !  Have  you  taken  leave  of  your  senses?"  Pal- 
grave demanded.  "  I  have  not  the  faintest  idea  what  you 
mean." 

"  I  mean  zis,"  said  M.  Theuriet  slowly.  "  I  will  pay  ze  ran- 
som and  your  entire  indebtedness — not  alone  what  you  owe 
me,  7/10/1  a/zii — on  ze  condition  zat  when  she  ees  returned  to 
you,  you  will  giv'  her  to  me.  She  ees  ze  security  which  would 
indemnify  me  against  all  losses." 

"  Give  her  to  you!  For  what?"  The  undisguised  amaze- 
ment in  the  father's  tone  brought  a  dull  hue  of  color  into  M. 
Theuriet's  faded  face,  but  he  managed  to  answer  steadily: 

"  For  my  wife." 

Palgrave  jerked  his  horse  to  a  sudden  halt. 

"  For  your  wife.?"  he  gasped.  "  Why,  man,  you  are  old 
enough  to  be  her  father !" 

"  Oest  vrai"  admitted  the  Frenchman,  wincing  a  trifle  be- 
neath the  sting  in  the  exclamation  of  the  girl's  parent,"  but, 
pardon,  I  would  be  more  kind  to  her  zan  her  captors  are  like- 
lee  to  be,  zink  you  not  so,  unless  ze  ransom  arreev'  quicklee?" 

The  teeth  of  the  sugar  planter  met  fiercely  through  his 
nether  lip. 

"  Are  those  your  only  terms?"  he  asked  bitterly. 

"  Could  you  wish  bettair,  my  friend?"  replied  M.  Theuriet, 
with  evident  surprise.  "  Wiz  one  stroke,  you  recovair  your 
daughtair  an'  remov'  your  largest  creditor,  besides  securing 
his  aid  een  settling  wiz  ze  Catalans."  He  lighted  a  cigar  while 
he  spoke,  to  hide  the  nervous  twitching  of  his  lips.  He  had 
had  a  desire  for  Raquel  ever  since  he  had  seen  her  blooming 
into  womanhood,  but  he  never  had  dared  to  hope  that  such  an 
opportunity  as  this  would  be  afforded  him.  He  had  made  his 
proposition.  Pie  felt  certain  that  the  fear  of  the  parent  for  the 
safety  of  his  child  would  lead  Palgrave  to  accept  it,  acting  on 
the  maxim:  "Of  two  evils,  choose  the  lesser."     Not  that  he 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  49 

considered  himself  in  the  light  of  an  evil,  but  it  was  evident 
that  Palgrave  did  in  this  connection. 

"  Not  to  save  myself  from  the  deepest  dye  of  disgrace  would 
I  consent  to  such  an  agreement,"  groaned  the  hard-pressed 
man  to  himself,  "  but  to  save  her  from  the  life  that  is  before 
her  if  she  is  not  ransomed — that  is  different.  Anything  is 
better  than  her  present  condition."  His  eyes  were  burning. 
He  saw  no  other  way  by  which  he  might  take  his  loved  one 
from  the  perils  which  had  become  hers. 

"  Both  ov  us  will  zen  hav'  her,"  M.  Theuriet  said  sugges- 
tively. He  spoke  as  if  it  already  were  settled.  Perhaps  it 
would  be  a  high  price  to  pay  for  a  bride,  but,  he  consoled 
himself  with  the  reflection  that  she  was  worth  it;  and  besides, 
he  was  fond  of  his  neighbor  and  was  not  averse  to  helping 
him  thus  in  his  sore  dilemma. 

It  was  a  long  time  before  Palgrave  uttered  a  word.  They 
proceeded  silently.  The  night  closed  in  about  them.  The 
darkness  seemed  to  throb  with  its  own  intensity.  Palgrave 
felt  that  it  stifled  him.  The  tapers  in  the  fingers  of  the  men 
melted,  bent,  died  down,  and  were  replaced  by  others  that 
flared  fitfully  at  first,  lighting  up  with  feeble  glimmer 
the  anaconda-like  twistings  of  the  parasitic  vines  about 
them. 

The  minutes  dropped  away. 

Fatigue  and  depression  lay  with  heavy  gloom  over  the  en- 
tire number. 

It  was  dawn  of  the  second  day  before  they  crept,  like  a 
column  of  ants,  out  from  the  shadow  of  the  forest  and  began 
to  descend  to  the  savannah. 

The  broad  fields  stretched  wide  their  undulating  surfaces 
of  yellow  green  cane. 

Gilbert  Palgrave's  heart  leaped  into  his  throat  and  choked 
him  as  he  looked  out  over  the  magical  scene.  If  it  were  sacri- 
ficed to  ransom  her,  to  what  place  could  they  go.>  No  home 
would  be  ready  for  her.  Both  of  them  would  be  destitute, 
obliged  to  accept  M.  Theuriet's  hospitality  until  they  could 
right  themselves  and  get  a  fresh  start.  What  would  become 
of  the  blacks?  Some  of  them  had  never  known  other  home 
than  this.     He  turned  to  the  Frenchman  abruptly. 

"  I  accept  your  ofTcr,"  he  said,  with  the  air  of  one  who  after 
a  hard  struggle,  yields  to  the  inevitable,  "on  this  condition: 
4 


50  A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA. 

she  shall  be  allowed  to  choose.  If  she  is  willing  to  prove  her 
gratitude  to  you  for  doing  what  I  am  not  able  to  do,  I  will 
have  nothing  to  say.  But  if  she  shrinks  from  fulfilling  the 
stipulations  she  shall  not  be  forced  into  the  union.  I  will  go 
out  as  a  common  laborer  rather  than " 

"  We  are  agreed,"  M.  Theuriet  hastened  to  say.  "  I  accept 
your  restreection.  I  zink  zat  she  will  not  need  be  forced  eento 
eet.  I  would  desire  only  her  willing  acquiescence  een  ze  mat- 
tair." 

But  he  knew  Raquel's  nature  well  enough  to  be  certain 
that,  learning  on  what  terms  her  freedom  had  been  purchased, 
she  would  remove  the  debt  at  any  cost. 

In  the  mean  time,  Gonzalo  Alarcon  had  been  forcing  his 
way  rapidly  through  the  jungles  of  interlaced  green  life  gay 
with  magnificent  bloom.  The  path  became  more  formidable 
the  higher  he  climbed.  His  fleet  animal  moved  with  infinite 
caution  on  the  verge  of  precipices  that  jutted  daringly  over 
foaming  cascades  of  a  thousand  opaline  tints,  waters  that 
gushed  joyously  from  subterranean  sources,  the  sumideros  or 
caverns  that  honeycomb  the  surface  of  the  island.  The  route 
which  he  had  chosen  was  far  shorter  than  the  one  up  which 
Raquel  had  been  taken.  Many  hours  had  not  passed  before 
he  halted  on  an  eminence  which  afforded  him  an  excellent 
view  of  the  ingenio  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa. 

Looking  down  on  it  from  above,  only  the  mass  of  tree-tops 
was  visible  surrounding  the  house.  The  palms,  alternating 
with  the  mangoes  and  aguacates,  rising  far  beyond  them  to 
the  height  of  a  hundred  feet  or  more,  looked  like  green 
plumes  as  they  tossed  gently|in  the  breeze,  which  did  not  reach 
down  to  touch  a  leaf  of  the  smaller  trees.  Set  in  the  midst  of 
the  bright  gold-tinged  cane  fields,  the  grove  of  beautiful  foli- 
age resembled  nothing  so  much  as  an  exquisite  emerald  in  a 
glittering  setting. 

The  absence  of  life  on  the  plantation  convinced  him  that 
the  male  portion  of  the  retinue  of  blacks  had  been  detailed  to 
search  for  the  missing  girl,  and  he  decided  to  make  his  way  to 
the  hacienda  without  delay. 

He  spurred  his  horse  down  the  precipitous  wall  of  green 
with  a  fearlessness  that  brought  him  a  couple  of  hours  later  out 
upon  the  unfrequented  highway  leading  to  the  sugar  planta- 
tion.    None  would  have  thought,  judging  from  his  seemingly 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  51 

careless  demeanor,  that  there  was  a  goodly  price  offered  for 
his  person,  alive  or  dead. 

At  a  curve  in  the  road  he  came  suddenly  upon  two  eques- 
trians.    His  hand  instantly  was  on  his  weapons,  as  were  theirs. 

"  Halt!"  ordered  one  of  them  in  English,  covering  the  soli- 
tary horseman  with  a  revolver. 

Alarcon's  horse  was  drawn  up  sharply. 

"  Peace,  ainigos,"  he  returned  with  the  courtesy  of  the 
country.  "  You  have  the  advantage  of  me,  senors.  Can  I 
serve  you?  I  place  myself  at  your  feet" — the  latter  decla- 
ration being  nothing  more  than  a  common  salutation  in  all  lands 
where  Spanish  blood  has  entered. 

Still  wary,  the  two  riders  approached  him. 

"Si,  se/lor ;  the  estate  of  La  Buena  Esperanza,  the  coffee 
plantation  of  JM.  Theuriet,  we  seek  it,"  explained  the  one  whom 
Alarcon  divined  to  be  a  Havanese  guide  escorting  the  stranger 
through  the  interioi*.  "  Will  you  direct  us?  There  is  a  fork 
in  the  road  some  distance  back.  We  fear  we  have  taken  the 
wrong  turning." 

"  Es  vcrdad,"  nodded  Alarcon  in  a  most  friendly  manner. 
"  You  have  done  so.  I  go  to  the  same  turning.  Will  you  have 
the  grace  to  permit  me  to  accompany  you?" 

"  Con  fmtc/io  gusto,  sefior,"  answered  the  first  speaker,  the 
one  who  had  been  so  peremptory  with  his  demand.  It  was  no 
other  than  Lithgow,  who  had  succeeded  in  coming  this  near 
the  property  of  the  coffee  planter  to  whom  he  bore  letters. 
His  journey  through  the  mysterious  land  of  inland  Cuba  had 
been  fraught  with  no  adventures  worth  chronicling.  Owing 
to  warnings  received  in  Havana  he  had  been  suspicious  and  on 
the  alert,  but  to  no  purpose ;  and  he  had  indulged  in  some 
merriment  over  the  exaggerated  reports  of  the  dangers  attend- 
ing an  interior  trip.  Even  this  encounter,  which  had  had  the 
flavor  of  possible  trouble,  quickly  resolved  itself  into  an  ami- 
cable meeting,  though,  when  Alarcon  came  abreast,  the  Amer- 
ican still  deemed  it  advisable  to  keep  a  vigilant  eye  on  this 
highway  acquaintance. 

"  El  se/lor  es  IngUs — 710  T  queried  Alarcon  smilingly. 

"  No  ;  Anierica?io,"  corrected  Lithgow,  with  the  briefness  of 
the  foreigner. 

"  Ah,  St  ;  one  might  have  known,"  commented  Alarcon. 
"  None  but   an   American  who   knows   nothing  but  freedom 


52  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

would  be  wandering  thus  alone  through  this  portion  of  the 
island.     Were  you  not  warned,  sefior?" 

"  Times  without  number,"  answered  Lithgow,  adding  with 
a  tone  of  apology :  "  That  was  the  reason,  pardon,  senor,  why 
I  mistook  you  for  a  possible " 

"  Guerrilla?"  laughed  Alarcon,  helping  him  out.  "  I  must 
appear  dangerous;  is  it  so?  Believe  me,  senors,  I  am  pained 
to  have  alarmed  you.  The  last  thing  that  a  Cuban  desires  is 
to  frighten  away  American  enterprise  from  the  island." 

Lithgow  felt  his  doubts  diminishing  as  to  the  reputable 
standing  of  this  gentleman.  In  his  mind  he  set  him  down  for 
a  planter  of  note. 

"  You  are  the  first  individual,  seiior,  from  whom  I  have 
heard  such  a  remark,"  he  said  with  satisfaction.  "It  is  a 
strange  people  down  here.  They  appear  determined  not  to 
advance.  They  put  obstacles  in  the  way  of  each  proposed 
improvement." 

"  Call  it  not  the  fault  of  the  people  but  the  fault  of  the 
power  that  governs  us,"  Alarcon  answered,  glancing  at  the 
guide.  "  How  can  the  tax-ridden  populace  take  that  which 
Spain  does  not  give  them?  She  is  not  anxious  for  improve- 
ments. She  has  no  desire  that  the  full  resources  of  her  rich 
possession  shall  become  known  and  draw  covetous  eyes,  least 
of  all  those  of  the  mighty  republic  north  of  us." 

The  guide  turned  a  gaze  in  which  was  dawning  a  wonder- 
ing distrust  upon  this  fearless  speaker;  for,  even  with  but  the 
forest  to  hear,  it  is  a  bold  man  that  utters  such  sentences  in 
Cuba.  But  Alarcon's  attention  was  riveted  now  on  the  Amer- 
ican. He  missed  the  glance  of  the  Havanese.  He  went  on 
earnestly : 

"  Cuba's  mines  are  unworked  because  the  taxes  on  the  ex- 
humed ore  are  more  than  the  value  of  the  stuff  itself.  Of  its 
thirty-five  million  acres,  over  fifteen  million  are  forests,  over 
seven  million  are  barren,  only  about  three  million  are  devoted 
to  agriculture,  here  where  the  ground  needs  only  to  be  'tickled 
with  a  hoe  and  it  laughs'  and  brings  forth  such  harvests  as  no 
other  land  knows.  Many  plantations  have  lain  in  waste  since 
the  ten-year  war.  The  planters  become  poorer  each  year  be- 
cause the  taxes  eat  their  profits.  Not  until  Cuba  gains  her 
freedom  will  she  be  anything  but  an  orange  sucked  dry. 
Spain  drains  her  of  everything.     Spanish  soldiers  quartered 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  53 

on  us,  thriving  at  the  island's  expense,  will  some  day  find  them- 
selves pushed  into  the  sea,  and  before  Spain  can  send  others 
over,  Cuba  will  be  able  to  take  possession  of  herself." 

"  Such  words  are  not  uttered  in  Havana,"  the  American 
said  significantly. 

"  No,  nor  here,  seilor,  save  by  those  who  dare,"  returned 
Alarcon  as  significantly. 

Lithgow  regarded  him  keenly. 

"  I  am  glad  to  have  met  you,  seiior,"  he  told  him.  "  You 
are  the  only  person  I  have  seen  who  has  not  been  afraid  of 
something,  governor-general,  priests,  taxes,  fever,  failure — 
but  you  appear  to  defy  such  small  matters." 

Alarcon  indulged  in  a  peculiar  smile.  They  had  reached 
the  fork  in  the  road.  He  urged  his  horse  into  it,  at  the  same 
time  lifting  his  sombrero  with  the  ineffable  grace  of  him  who 
boasts  of  Castilian  blood. 

"  Gracias,  sc/lor,"  he  replied,  with  a  gesture  of  farewell.  "  A 
Cuban  sometimes  rejoices  at  an  opportunity  to  say  what  he 
thinks.  Adios  !  You  now  are  on  the  borders  of  the  estate  of 
M.  Theuriet.  Two  miles  will  bring  you  to  the  hacienda.  Vaya 
listed  con  Dios  !  " 

And  each  rode  his  way,  unaware  that  their  first  was  not  to 
be  their  last  meeting. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Just  as  night  fell,  Tia  Juana,  the  present  head  of  the  Pal- 
grave  household,  was  summoned  to  the  bolted  entrance  by  a 
loud  and  repeated  knocking.  She  thrust  a  turbancd  head  out 
of  a  safe  aperture  and  took  a  deliberate  survey  of  the  producer 
of  the  commotion. 

"  Madrc  de  Dios !  Thinkest  thou  that  I  will  let  thee  in?" 
she  queried  silently.  "  How  knowest  I  that  thou  art  not  the 
devil  himself  in  disguise?" 

The  disturbance  continued,  and  she  heard  the  words: 
"  Open  quickly!  I  have  news  of  the  lost  sciiorita." 
Tia  Juana  scrambled  hastily  from  her  post  of  observation 
and  obeyed  the  mandate  of  the  stranger  joyfully,  besieging 
him  with  questions  that  elicited  but  meagre  replies. 


54  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  The  communication  is  only  for  Senor  Palgrave,"  he  re- 
buked her  with  authority.     "  Where  is  he?"' 

"  He  seeks  the  senorita  in  the  mountains,  se/ior  mio.  Satan 
take  the  black  souls  of  those  brigands !"  she  answered,  drop- 
ping into  the  lamentations  which  prevailed  at  the  ingenio. 

Alarcon  showed  his  white  teeth  in  a  satisfied  smile. 

"  How  long  since  he  went,  ;///  bonita  T'  he  asked,  giving  her 
a  glance  of  such  flattering  admiration  that  the  heart  of  Tia 
Juana  never  could  have  withheld  any  information  that  he 
might  have  demanded.  It  was  long  since  the  eye  of  mascu- 
linity had  accorded  her  anything  but  indifference,  and  she 
expanded  under  it  as  a  faded  violet  will  beneath  the  rains  of 
April. 

"  A  night  and  a  day,  scTior  inio — ever  since  the  senorita 
was  stolen.  Dios  visit  the  fires  of  perdition  upon  the  wild 
riders!" 

"  Then  it  is  safe  to  presume  that  this  night  will  bring  his 
return,"  commented  Alarcon  comfortably,  preparing  to  make 
himself  at  home. 

"  God  grant  it !"  breathed  the  woman.  "  But  he  will  return 
only  when  he  brings  her;  he  so  swore." 

Alarcon  shrugged  his  broad  shoulders  lightly. 

"  Muy  bien"  he  said.  "  Then  I  must  wait.  I  am  as  raven- 
ous as  a  judio.  Will  your  sweet  hands  have  the  grace  to 
bring  me  the  best  that  the  hacienda  affords? — and  wine,  too, 
querida  iiiia;  a  bottle  of  Don  Gilberto's  best  wine!" 

Flushed  with  the  tremor  that  his  endearing  words  gave  her 
long-quiet  heart,  Tia  Juana  hastened  into  the  cocina  to  do  his 
bidding,  imparting  to  the  other  women  the  excitement  of  her 
own  manner. 

While  waiting  for  his  orders  to  be  executed,  Alarcon  looked 
about  him.  He  was  pleased  with  the  scrutiny.  He  found 
himself  surrounded  by  an  air  of  comfort  to  which  he  had  been 
a  stranger  these  many  years.  He  appropriated  Palgrave 's 
cigars.  He  glanced  over  the  well-filled  bookshelves,  but 
therefrom  he  gained  little,  as  most  of  the  volumes  were  printed 
in  the  English  language  and  Alarcon's  education  had  been  ac- 
quired in  Spain,  from  which  land  he  had  been  exiled  to  Cuba 
for  some  early  misdemeanor  for  which  exile  had  been  deemed 
the  most  suitable  punishment. 

Completing  his  examination  of  the  hacienda  as  far  as  was 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  55 

possible,  he  went  out  to  investigate  the  estate  and  measure 
its  resources. 

The  fires  had  gone  out  in  the  mill,  something  that  never 
had  happened  during  the  sugar  season  in  all  the  years  that  the 
plantation  had  been  in  the  Englishman's  hands.  Cold  and 
black  the  furnaces  loomed  up,  filled  with  the  ashes  of  dead 
fires — fires  that  had  made  the  place  appear  a  veritable  Pluto's 
realm  as  the  lurid  light  flamed  and  flickered  over  the  bare, 
ebony  backs  of  the  workers  as  they  passed  to  and  fro,  keeping 
time  to  the  high,  weird,  monotonous  chant  of  the  gangs  filling 
the  troughs  with  cane.  For  a  scene  of  ceaseless  activity  none 
is  equal  to  a  sugar  plantation  during  the  season,  and,  by  com- 
parison, the  spot  now  looked  as  if  a  plague  had  struck  it. 

Alarcon  knew  what  a  tremendous  loss  these  few  days  of 
absolute  idleness  would  mean  to  the  planter,  yet  he  did  not 
think  of  swerving  from  his  intention  of  securing  ransom  from 
the  strained  exchequer  of  Palgrave. 

After  partaking  with  appreciation  of  the  meal  which  Tia 
Juana  and  her  supernumeraries  had  concocted,  he  swung  him- 
self in  Raquel's  hammock,  disregarding  Tia  Juana's  plain  an- 
nouncement that  it  was  considered  sacred  since  the  disappear- 
ance of  the  young  mistress. 

With  a  soul  not  wholly  insensible  to  the  whisperings  of 
the  palm's  high-lifted  crest,  he  revelled  in  the  temerity  that 
allowed  him  to  eat  and  sleep  beneath  the  roof  from  which  his 
men  had  stolen  its  chief  treasure.  His  thoughts  dwelt  on  the 
girl.  He  could  fancy  how  she  had  lain  thus,  idly  swinging 
night  after  night,  shut  in  so  completely  from  the  world. 

"  No  wonder  that  she  longs  for  work  to  do,  for  worlds  to 
win  !"  he  said  to  himself  in  the  darkness.  "  If  it  were  not  for 
the  gold  that  I  hope  to  g^et,  she  .should  remain  with  us;  she 
should  know  the  exhilaration  of  danger,  the  wildness  of  vic- 
tory. Her  frail  body  shelters  the  soul  of  a  man  hungry  to 
make  the  world /.?^/  him,  praise  him,  blame  him.  And  if  the 
gold  is  not  to  be  had— she  ^//a// become  one  of  us!" 

The  sound  of  the  water  splashing  forlornly  in  the  fountain 
broke  in  upon  his  thoughts.  After  a  time  he  continued  his 
cogitations: 

"  At  first  she  might  hate  me  for  the  loss  of  all  these  delights, 
but  some  day — she  would  thank  me :  for  with  her  bold  spirit 
to  urge  a  man  on  there  would  be  no  limits  placed  on  his  pos- 


$6  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

sible  achievements.  On  some  to-morrow  she  would  look  back 
with  shrugs  to  the  uneventful  hours  spent  here,  some  to-mor- 
row when  Cuba  might  be  at  her  feet  and  I,  Cuba's  hero. 
Stranger  things  have  been.  It  would  be  a  sweet  revenge  on 
old  Spain  for  the  indignities  she  heaped  on  me  as  a  prisoner. 
I've  a  mind  to  let  the  girl  stir  me  to  action.  So  far  I  have 
been  content  to  levy  tribute  on  Spain's  subjects.  To  raise  a 
force  sufficient  to  drive  Spain  from  the  country  would  be  to 
wreak  a  grand  vengeance  on  her  and  her  rulers.  For  Dios  ! 
I  will  do  it  on  some  viafiana  !  " 

He  lighted  another  cigar  and  indulged  in  a  faint  smile  at 
his  own  expense  as  he  realized  that  his  castles  in  Spain  were 
towering  up  with  only  the  blue  of  the  heavens  to  roof  them. 

"  There  is  Faquita,  however,"  he  reminded  himself,  with  a 
frown.  "  One  camp  could  never  hold  her  and  her  successor. 
Dust  of  the  saints!  Why  is  it  that  women  will  be  faithful 
when  one  would  prefer  them  otherwise?" 

The  purple  night  wore  on  and  away. 

Alarcon  retained  his  position  in  the  hammock  and  slept  the 
sound  sleep  that  tradition  accords  to  the  innocent  alone. 

He  did  not  hear  the  approaching  hoofs  w^hich  wound  their 
way  slowly  toward  the  entrance. 

Twice  a  sharp  summons  rang  out. 

When  Tia  Juana  hurried  fearfully  to  the  heavily  barred 
door,  Alarcon  caught  her  by  the  arm  persuasively. 

"  Speak  not  a  word  of  me,"  he  whispered,  with  a  threat  in 
his  tender  tones,  "  or  I  shall  know  how  to  silence  you." 

Bewildered,  for  she  had  intended  to  announce  at  once  his 
presence,  Tia  Juana  blundered  with  agitated  fingers  that  slow- 
ly undid  the  chains.  Before  swinging  wide  the  entrance,  she 
glanced  behind  her.     The  stranger  was  nowhere  to  be  seen. 

When  Gilbert  Palgrave  finally  secured  admittance  to  the 
court,  the  fact  that  he  was  not  accompanied  by  Raquel  caused 
such  a  wail  of  disappointment  to  be  sent  up  that  for  the  time 
Tia  Juana  completely  forgot  the  unbidden  guest. 

"  Hush !"  exclaimed  Palgrave  peremptorily,  to  whom  this 
show  of  grief  was  intolerable.  "  No  good  is  to  be  done  by 
such  a  commotion.  Get  me  some  coffee,  Juana,  and  put  the 
other  women  to  work  caring  for  the  men.     We  are  exhausted." 

Obediently  she  served  him,  watching  him  the  while  with 
anxious  eyes.     Outside  the  tired  blacks  were  relating  sorrow- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  57 

fully  the  discouragements  which  had  met  the  essay  to  pene- 
trate the  forest ;  but  the  master  told  her  nothing.  A  blight 
seemed  to  have  fallen  upon  him.  He  appeared  to  have  aged 
twenty  years. 

She  looked  about  her  searchingly,  wondering  where  the 
stranger  had  concealed  himself.  She  marvelled  at  such  con- 
cealment. Why  did  he  not  make  triumphant  declaration  that 
he  bore  information  concerning  the  seiiorita?  She  knew  that 
longer  delay  to  announce  his  presence  would  be  inexcusable 
on  her  part. 

"  Dear  master,  Juana  has  good  news,"  she  ventured  tremu- 
lously, at  last. 

Gilbert  Palgrave  looked  up  at  her  with  a  mute  question 
in  his  worn  face.     He  waited  for  her  to  tell  it. 

"  One  has  come,  seiior,  who  brings  word  of  the  seiiorita." 

The  sugar  planter  rose  to  his  feet  and  laid  his  hand  instinct- 
ively on  the  weapon  at  his  belt.  He  had  no  doubt  what  kind 
of  a  message  had  been  brought. 

"  Where  is  he?"  he  demanded.  His  voice  was  full  of 
menace. 

"  Aqut,  senor,"  came  the  answer  calmly,  and,  turning,  Gil- 
bert Palgrave  found  himself  face  to  face  with  the  stalwart 
figure  of  the  man  who  had  had  the  audacity  to  sleep  within 
his  walls. 

"  And  you  are — — ?"  asked  the  father. 

"  One  who  has  come  to  aid  you  in  freeing  the  seiiorita." 
Alarcon's  quiet  tone  was  convincing.  Palgrave  hesitated. 
This  was  a  little  different  from  what  he  had  expected. 

"  How?"  he  questioned,  his  voice  tense  and  strained  with 
the  curb  he  was  keeping  upon  himself.     "  By  what  method?" 

"  Furnish  the  ransom  that  is  requested,  seiior." 

"Never!"  declared  the  Englishman,  bringing  down  his 
hand  with  force  among  the  dishes  which  Tia  Juana  had  set 
before  him.  "  I  will  have  you  strung  up  as  a  malefactor  and 
all  who  come  after  you  on  the  same  mission,  until  your  leader 
will  be  glad  to  return  my  daughter  to  secure  a  cessation  of 
hostilities." 

"  Muy  bien,"  bowed  Alarcon.  "  The  seiior  knows  best  how 
he  values  his  child,  and  which  is  of  more  importance,  the 
seiiorita  or  gold." 

Gilbert  Palgrave 's  face  quivered. 


58  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  We  need  the  gold,"  Alarcon  went  on,  "  and  that  is  why  1 
have  dared  to  present  myself  before  you  unattended — to  warn 
you.  IVe  need  the  pesos  far  more  than  we  need  the  girl ;  but 
the  chief  has  become  so  enamored  of  her" — here  a  smile  curved 
his  lips  a  trifle — "  that  he  may  refuse  even  ransom  for  her.  I 
am  here  to  urge  you  to  immediate  action  if  you  hope  to  have 
her  returned  to  you.  Alarcon  knows  our  need  of  the  ransom, 
but  the  danger  is  that  he  may  let  his  inclinations  get  the  bet- 
ter of  his  judgment,  and  leave  us  to  secure  gold  from  some 
other  source." 

Palgrave's  already  pale  face  turned  ashen  in  hue. 

"  My  Godr!  Alarcon!  Is  it  into  his  hands  that  she  has  fallen? 
Heaven  help  us !  It  is  not  that  I  care  for  the  gold ;  it  is  the 
fact  that  I  cannot  secure  it.  The  money-lenders  have  me  in 
their  power  completely.  I  cannot  raise  another  medio,  even 
on  next  year's  crop.  Think  of  the  position  I  am  in,  man,  and 
have  pity !  I  would  sell  my  soul  to  procure  her  freedom,  but — 
what  can  I  do?    You  demand  gold — gold  I  have  not." 

Gonzalo  Alarcon  wisely  gave  no  evidence  of  his  identity. 

"  Yes,  seiior,  we  must  have  gold,"  he  replied.  "  There  is 
more  at  stake  than  you  think.  Possibly  you  are  in  favor  of 
Spanish  officials  and  Spanish  soldiers  for  whom  you  are  taxed 
so  severely;  they  are  the  ones  who  pocket  your  profits.  This 
money  which  must  redeem  your  child  will  go  to  arm  those  who 
are  willing  to  fight  for  such  as  you  who  are  crushed  by  the 
iron  heel  of  Spain.     Cuba  must  be  rid  of  her  oppressors." 

The  sugar  planter  thrust  out  his  hands  bitterly. 

"  Yes!"  he  cried.  "  Cuba  has  heard  that  again  and  again, 
and  what  does  it  amount  to?  Defeat,  defeat!  And  then  the 
taxes  are  piled  on  anew  to  pay  for  Spain's  war  expenses  in 
conquering  us.  The  planters  are  the  ones  who  suffer  the  most 
lamentably.  Look  how  it  was  after  the  last  revolt !  Even  if 
I  could  afford  it,  I  should  be  a  fool  to  furnish  funds  to  equip 
an  army  that  will  make  havoc  of  every  estate  in  the  island,  my 
own  included." 

The  chief's  shoulders  moved  with  the  philosophical  shrug 
of  the  Cuban.  Though  he  had  not  the  faintest  connection 
with  the  patriots,  even  then  planning  cautiously  for  a  future 
revolution,  Alarcon  deemed  it  wise  to  pretend  that  the  ransom 
was  to  be  devoted  to  the  noble  cause  of  liberty.  In  case  of  in- 
surrection he  and  his  men  would  be  certain  to  link  themselves 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  59 

with  the  common  cause,  but  never  could  he  be  classed  legiti- 
mately among  those  dauntless  ones  who  pour  their  noble  blood 
so  freely  forth  for  the  land  that  they  love. 

"  The  revolution  will  come  some  day  whether  you  help  or 
not,  senor,"  he  observed.  "  If  a  portion  of  the  assistance  pro- 
ceeds from  you,  you  and  your  possessions  will  be  protected." 

"  But  it  is  impossible!"  Palgrave  asserted,  with  despairing 
accent.  "  I  am  at  your  mercy.  I  must  have  my  child,  but — 
I  have  nothing-  to  offer  you  as  purchase-money." 

Gonzalo  Alarcon  looked  at  him  steadily. 

"  Borrow  of  M.  Theuriet,"  he  suggested.  "  He  has  accom- 
modated you  before;  he  may  again." 

The  planter's  expression  became  one  of  angered  astonish- 
ment. 

"  How  could  you  know?"  he  demanded. 

"  Our  sources  of  information  are  extensive,"  smiled  Alar- 
con, not  thinking  it  necessary  to  betray  that  he  had  learned 
this  from  Raquel  herself.  "  M.  Theuriet  will  loan  you  any 
amount  now,  is  it  not  so?" 

Gilbert  Palgrave  realized  his  bitter  position.  A  convulsion 
of  impotent  rage  shook  him.  He  saw  that  his  effort  to  secure 
her  without  this  sacrifice  was  of  no  avail.  It  was  like  beating 
against  a  stone  wall  to  appeal  to  the  emissary  before  him. 
Controlling  himself  with  all  the  force  of  a  strong  will,  he 
summoned  Tia  Juana,  who  had  withdrawn  discreetly  on  the 
discovery  that  she  had  not  been  far  wrong  in  her  first  remarks 
on  Alarcon  when  she  had  viewed  him  from  her  post  of 
vantage. 

"  Send  Diego  for  M.  Theuriet,"  ordered  the  master.  "  Tell 
him  to  make  haste.  M.  Theuriet  must  come  back  with  him." 
On  returning  from  the  mountains,  M.  Theuriet  found  that 
those  he  had  left  in  charge  had  recognized  the  American  as 
the  guest  their  master  was  expecting  and  had  installed  him 
as  hospitably  as  M.  Theuriet  himself  could  have  done. 

The  commotion  of  the  early  home-comers  awakened  the 
entire  household,  and  Lithgow,  dressing  hastily,  descended 
to  the  sala  to  meet  his  host. 

The  worn  appearance  of  M.  Theuriet  and  his  men  and  the 
lamentations  of  the  women  told  Lithgow  how  fruitless  had 
been  the  search,  even  before  M.  Theuriet  himself  acquainted 
him  with  the  result. 


6o  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  I  grieve  zat  I  was  not  'ere  to  giv'  j'-ou  ze  welcome  zat  has 
been  waiting  for  you,  Mr.  Hamilton,"  Theuriet  said  when 
Lithgow  presented  himself  with  his  credentials.  "  Doubtless 
you  hav'  learned  ze  cause  ov  my  absence.  Out?  Ah,  eet  ees 
verra  sad !  You  will  pardon  eef  I  leav'  you  while  I  reraov'  my 
fatigue?    Merci!     Consider  my  house  your  own." 

Lithgow  had  listened  the  night  before  to  a  most  vivid 
account  of  the  abduction,  and,  after  rehearsing  it  to  Beatrice 
in  a  letter  which  he  gave  to  the  guide,  had  gone  to  sleep  in 
the  unluxurious  bed  known  to  tropical  countries,  feeling  that 
he  indeed  was  in  the  land  of  romance  and  mystery.  He 
scarcely  had  been  able  to  credit  the  story  as  first  it  was  related 
to  him.  His  host's  manner  convinced  him  that  it  had  not  been 
the  dream  it  had  seemed  to  him  on  awakening. 

Thinking  it  scarcely  worth  while  to  go  back  to  bed,  he 
stationed  himself  in  one  of  the  chairs  of  the  estrada  to  take 
another  nap,  if  might  be,  and  so  wear  away  the  time  until  the 
proprietor  of  the  estate  should  be  in  a  condition  to  execute 
business.  Despite  the  tempting,  dreamful  ease  which  ap- 
peared to  hover  over  the  plantation,  he  contemplated  remain- 
ing at  La  Buena  Esperanza  no  longer  than  was  necessary  for 
the  proper  consummation  of  the  matter  he  had  in  hand. 

That  it  would  be  a  halcyon  spot  in  which  to  spend  the  rest 
of  his  life  he  had  decided  after  one  glance  up  the  cool,  per- 
fumed avenue  of  West  Indian  trees  that  led  to  the  white  gal- 
leries of  the  mansion  which  M.  Theuriet  had  had  constructed 
after  the  style  of  French  architecture. 

He  had  not  been  able  to  compose  himself  to  somnolency 
when  the  rapid  beat  of  horses'  hoofs  up  the  palm-lined  avenue 
broke  in  upon  his  thoughts.  There  was  something  suggestive 
of  alarm  in  the  sound,  and  the  household  was  in  commotion 
again. 

It  was  Diego  and  a  companion,  bearing  Don  Gilberto 
Palgrave's  message. 

M.  Theuriet  soon  appeared  in  response  to  the  summons, 
looking  very  haggard  by  the  brightness  of  the  day. 

A  curious  elation  was  in  his  face. 

He  approached  his  guest. 

"  My  neighbor,  whose  daughtair  was  taken  by  zose 
scoundreals,  has  sent  word  for  me  to  return  wiz  hees  messen- 
gairs,"  he  explained.     "  I  shall  ride  over  een  ze  volante,  and 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  6 1 

as  such  episodes  are  rare  een  ze  States  I  zought  zat  you  might 
enjoy  accompanying  me.  From  what  I  can  gathair  from  Diego 
a  demand  has  been  made   for  ransom." 

"  You  could  not  favor  me  more,"  Lithgow  cried  gratefully, 
preparing  with  alacrity  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity. 
"  When  your  servants  recounted  the  tale  of  what  had  occurred, 
I  found  it  difficult  to  believe  that  such  things  could  take  place 
in  this  age  of  the  world.  I  thought  that  feats  of  that  nature 
had  fallen  into  disuse.  There  is  hope  for  the  world  yet,  if 
romance  is  not  all  dead." 

"  Call  you  eet  'romance'?"  queried  M.  Theuriet.  "  We  call 
eet  ze  horrors  of  brigandage." 

During  the  drive  over  to  the  sugar  plantation,  M.  Theuriet 
rehearsed  the  story  of  Raquel's  unfortunate  abduction;  and 
the  American  listened  and  exclaimed,  all  the  while  congratu- 
lating himself  that  it  was  to  be  his  luck  to  witness  the  close 
of  this  adventure  which  had  befallen  a  Cuban  maiden. 

"  Beatrice  will  regret  that  she  did  not  come,"  he  thought 
complacently  while  the  old-fashioned  volante  was  rocked 
along  cumbersomely. 

With  a  word  of  explanation  from  his  host,  Lithgow  found 
himself  received  with  grave  cordiality  by  the  bereft  father. 
Being  ushered  into  the  sala,  he  was  electrified  to  behold  that 
he  was  face  to  face  with  his  highway  acquaintance.  His  first 
impression  was  that  the  man  was,  like  M.  Theuriet,  a  neigh- 
boring planter  who  had  come  to  the  assistance  of  Palgrave; 
but  there  was  that  latitude  in  his  attire  which,  contrasted  with 
the  simpleness  of  taste  which  both  planters  displayed,  sug- 
gested a  certain  freedom  from  conventional  restraint  that  only 
an  untrammelled  existence  can  give.  To  the  American's 
questioning  gaze  Alarcon  responded  with  a  smile  of  grim 
amusement. 

"  Buenas  dias,  seFior"  he  saluted,  with  the  pleasant  courtesy 
of  the  land.  "  It  appears  that  we  are  destined  to  know  each 
other  better — no?" 


62  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

When  Raquel  returned  to  consciousness,  she  found  herself 
within  the  shelter  of  a  palm  hut  fashioned  after  the  simple 
style  of  architecture  known  to  the  humble  montero. 

The  hazy  recollection  of  the  experiences  through  which  she 
had  passed  beat  in  upon  her  mind  with  the  vagueness  of  a 
dream,  until,  with  the  entrance  of  the  woman  called  Faquita, 
she  sprang  up  with  a  cry  of  complete  remembrance. 

Faquita  viewed  her  with  eyes  that  were  not  easy  to  read, 
and  knelt  beside  her  with  a  utensil  filled  with  hot  coffee. 

"  Drink !"  she  urged. 

Raquel  pushed  the  proffered  refreshment  aside  gently. 

"  Who  are  you?"  she  asked,  looking  wonderingly  into  the 
countenance  before  her.  "  Are  you  another  unfortunate 
captive?" 

Faquita  shrugged  her  shoulders  and  revealed  beautiful 
white  teeth  in  a  mocking  laugh. 

"Perhaps;  who  knows?"  she  replied  lightly.  "Some  call 
me  the  wife  of  Alarcon.     I  am  known  as  'Faquita.'  " 

Raquel  raised  herself  on  her  rude  bed  and  grasped  the  arm 
of  the  speaker  tightly,  peering  into  the  woman's  eyes  with 
trenchant  gaze. 

"  His  wife !"  she  echoed.     "  He  did  not " 

"  Speak  as  if  he  had  one?"  completed  Faquita,  with  a  dis- 
agreeable laugh. 

"  I  am  so  glad !"  breathed  Raquel,  with  a  sigh  of  relief. 
"  You  will  remain  with  me — no?  Oh,  sefwra  mia,  I  beg 
you !" 

"No;  I  may  not,"  returned  Faquita.  "He  has  told 
Annizae  to  care  for  you.  Mira  !  I  have  brought  you  coffee. 
You  must  eat ;  you  must  drink.  You  will  need  your  strength 
if  you  hope  to  return  to  the  house  of  your  father." 

Thus  propelled  by  the  most  powerful  incentive  which  could 
be  given  her,  Raquel  drained  the  dish  of  the  familiar  beverage. 
She  had  not  realized  how  weak  and  faint  she  was  from  lack  of 
nourishment.  She  was  uncertain  whether  or  not  to  venture 
to  ask  this  girl  to  help  her  to  escape.  That  had  been  her  first 
impulse;  but  the  discovery  of  the  creature's  relation  to  the 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  63 

chief  made  her  hesitate.  She  lay  back  on  the  couch  and 
closed  her  eyes.  Her  brain  was  awhirl  with  the  intoxication 
of  the  hope  which  had  burst  into  life  at  the  sight  of  a  com- 
panion of  her  own  sex. 

Faquita  had  risen  and  stood  regarding  the  white  face  of 
the  prostrate  girl  narrowly.  Almost  was  there  malevolence 
in  her  gaze.  Raquel  lifted  her  lids  again.  Something  in  the 
interchange  of  their  eyes  impelled  her  to  reach  out  and  catch 
hold  of  Faquita's  hand. 

"  If  the  ransom  does  not  come,  you  will  help  me?"  she 
whispered. 

Faquita  bent  nearer.  Her  coal-black  orbs,  closely  set  in 
her  gypsy-like  face,  glistened  as  she  said  softly: 

"  What  would  you  wish?" 

"To  escape!"  Raquel's  voice  and  eyes  were  eloquent  in 
their  pleading. 

At  that  instant  the  masculine  figure  of  the  elder  woman 
appeared  in  the  entrance.  She  gave  an  unmistakable  excla- 
mation of  anger  at  the  sight  of  Faquita,  and  snatched  the  dish 
from  which  Raquel  had  drank  the  coffee.  Into  it  she  looked 
half  suspiciously,  glancing  from  it  to  Faquita,  then  to  Raquel, 
with  an  expression  resembling  anxiety. 

"  It  would  not  be  well  for  Gonzalo  to  see  thee  here,"  she 
said  meaningly.     "  What  didst  thou  bring  in  this?" 

Faquita  lifted  her  shoulders  in  that  inimitable  gesture  of 
the  Cuban  and  walked  carelessly  out  of  the  hut,  humming  a 
refrain  that  revealed  that  this  forest  existence  was  by  no 
means  the  only  one  she  had  known. 

Raquel  arose  and  tried  to  steady  herself  against  the  frail 
walls  of  the  tropical  dwelling.  The  exhaustion  and  excessive 
fear  which  she  had  undergone  the  night  previous  had  told 
seriously  on  her  strength. 

"  Has  the  chief  gone  for  ransom?"  she  questioned  anxiously. 

"What  then?"  returned  the  woman  coldly;  but  she  placed 
food  before  Raquel  and  urged  her  to  partake  of  it.  Then  she 
left  her  charge  alone. 

Raquel  watched  for  the  return  of  Faquita,  but  the  girl 
came  not.  Remembering  her  suggestion,  Raquel  endeavored 
to  eat  that  she  might  be  possessed  of  all  possible  endurance 
whatever  should  come,  but  the  coarse  food  was  not  tempting 
and  she  was  too  sick  at  soul  to  do  anything  but  turn  over  in 


64  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

her  mind  again  and  again  different  methods  of  escape  that 
suggested  themselves. 

She  crept  stealthily  toward  the  entrance,  believing  that 
she  was  not  guarded,  but  as  she  reached  the  aperture  which 
served  as  door  she  caught  the  sound  of  cautious  voices. 

"  She  would  not  dare !"  she  heard  a  man  say  in  response  to 
some  low  words  that  had  proceeded  from  Annizae. 

"  Quicn  sabe?"  replied  the  woman,  unconvinced.  "  Alarcon 
told  her  not  to  approach  the  senorita.  She  stole  past  you 
while  I  was  getting  almerzo  for  the  setiorita." 

"  I  saw  her,"  said  the  other  voice.  "  She  told  me  you  had 
sent  her  with  coffee." 

"Ah,  she  lied  with  that  quick  tongue  of  hers!"  cried 
Annizae.  "  Here  is  the  bowl.  What  was  in  it  besides  coffee? 
Faquita  does  nothing  like  that  to  help  me.  She  had  another 
motive.     What  was  it?" 

The  man  drew  nearer  the  entrance.  Raquel  perceived 
that  it  was  the  gold-skinned  youth  who  had  been  called 
Zuiiega.     There  was  agitation  in  his  tone. 

"  Faquita  would  not  dare  use  the  juice  of  the  manchineel 
apple,"  he  declared,  "  not  now,  anyway.  The  senorita  may  be 
ransomed.  If  she  is  not,  then  it  may  be  well  to  watch 
Faquita;  but — she  is  too  cowardly." 

Annizae  was  sombre. 

"  Think  you  so?"  she  queried  skeptically.  "  You  men 
believe  anything  that  wears  petticoats.  Faquita  saw  the  look 
on  Alarcon 's  face.  She  knows  that  even  a  ransom  may  not 
restore  the  senorita  to  her  home." 

Zuiiega's  brow  contracted. 

"  I  will  guard  well,"  he  said.  "  Faquita  shall  enter  no 
more." 

Raquel  had  crouched  on  the  ground.  She  now  laid  her 
face  against  the  earth  to  hide  the  moan  that  rose  to  her  lips 
in  spite  of  herself. 

The  mere  name  of  the  deadly  manchineel  apple  curdled 
her  blood  for  a  time;  then  a  curious  relief  followed  on  the 
horror.  She  understood  what  lay  before  her  if  she  were  not 
ransomed,  and  this  discovery  of  the  danger  to  be  appre- 
hended from  the  quickly  aroused  jealousy  of  Faquita  revealed 
to  her  an  avenue  of  escape  of  which  she  felt  she  would  be 
swift   to   take   advantage.     The  poison   of  the   manchineel! 


^    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  6$ 

Surely  she  would  have  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  deadly 
fruit!  She  would  beg  Faquita  to  procure  it.  Faquita  need 
fear  no  usurpation  of  her  power.  Perhaps  when  convinced  of 
this,  Faquita  would  assist  her  to  fly  from  the  camp  and  Gon- 
zalo  Alarcon. 

She  recalled  her  boastful  words  in  the  sala — how  that  she 
would  be  the  Napoleon  for  whom  Cuba  waited.  Here  was 
the  opportunity  at  hand  for  her  to  wield  an  inspiring  influence 
over  one  who  claimed  to  have  the  Cuban  cause  at  heart;  but, 
face  to  face  with  the  awful  sacrifice  of  self  involved,  death 
seemed  nobler  and  infinitely  more  to  be  desired. 

Fearful  that  Annizae  would  find  her  there,  she  slipped  back 
to  her  couch  and  lay  motionless,  concocting  and  rejecting,  as 
impossible,  plan  after  plan. 

The  taciturn  woman  came  and  peered  at  her  often,  once 
even  shaking  her  gently.  Upon  Raquel  opening  her  eyes 
inquiringly,  she  went  away  satisfied,  stationing  herself  out- 
side the  hut. 

It  seemed  to  Raquel  that  she  had  been  in  this  place  for 
years.  Time  moved  so  heavily.  In  fancy  she  could  hear  the 
dripping  of  the  water  in  the  dear  old  court.  She  marvelled 
that  ever  she  had  complained  of  its  monotony.  To  hear  once 
again  the  roar  and  rumble  of  the  mill,  all  the  familiar  sounds 
which  had  made  her  life — what  would  she  not  give?  Love 
of  country,  adventure,  glory,  achievement,  sank  into  nothing- 
ness before  that  imperative  longing  for  the  safety  of  the  walls 
against  which  she  had  chafed  with  the  impatience  of  youth. 

Knowing  how  helpless  she  was,  but  feeling  that  absolute 
inaction  was  no  longer  bearable,  she  arose  again  and  placed 
herself  by  the  entrance  to  watch  Zuiiega  as  he  split  the  palm 
boles  into  poles,  staking  them  and  tying  them  together  with 
ropes  from  the  majaguay,  forming  thus  a  roof  and  rafters  pos- 
sessing all  requisite  strength.  That  he  was  constructing  a  hut 
like  the  one  she  was  in  was  very  evident.  The  long  stalks  en- 
circling the  trunk  of  the  palm  he  utilized  by  placing  them  over 
the  framework  already  built.  In  this,  as  well  as  in  thatching 
the  roof  with  the  long  plume-stems,  the  uncommunicative  An- 
nizae assisted. 

Raquel  wished  that  they  would  talk  as  they  worked.     They 
were  silent.     She  peered  forth  into  the  catliedral-likc  gloom 
ot  the  surrounding  forest  and  wondered  if  ever  she  could  find 
5 


66  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

her  way  through  its  mysteries  did  slie  succeed  in  escaping. 
She  fancied  that  she  could  hear  the  vegetation  struggling  in 
its  battle  for  supremacy.  She  strained  her  hearing  to  catch  the 
speech  that  appeared  striving  to  break  through  the  solemn 
stillness  that,  by  a  peculiar  anomaly,  was  pulsing  with  sound, 
the  murmur  of  growth,  the  sigh  of  decay.  Something  seemed 
to  be  whispering  to  her  with  cold,  damp  breath : 

"  This  which  you  call  yourself  will  be  on  some  to-morrow 
but  a  tiny  heap  of  dust  of  no  more  consequence  than  this  for- 
est mould  in  which  the  feet  sink  noiselessly.  What  then? 
Will  the  real  identity  go  on  living,  progressing?  What  is  the 
meaning  of  the  passion  to  accomplish  something  that  shakes 
you?  Is  it  only  the  selfish  desire  to  make  the  world  aware  of 
your  presence  before  that  to-morrow  arrives?  The  chance  you 
have  craved  has  come  to  you :  you  turn  from  it  with  shudder 
and  dread.  You  fancied  that  you  had  a  man's  soul  within  you 
— but,  it  is  the  timorous  heart  of  a  child." 

"No!  It  is  the  miserable  fear  of  a  woman's  nature,"  she 
answered  with  mental  fierceness.  "  Of  a  man  nothing  is  re- 
quired but  courage;  that  will  place  him  anywhere.  But  a 
woman  may  not  stand  out  fearlessly  and  face  the  world,  not 
here  in  Cuba,  It  is  said  that  she  can  in  other  lands.  Here, 
she  only  can  strike  through  the  hands  of  others." 

To  escape  from  herself  she  turned  toward  Zuiiega.  An- 
nizae  had  disappeared  amid  the  crepusculous  gloom  of  the 
green  aisles  for  fresh  material. 

"  When  is  the  next  uprising  to  be?"  she  asked  him  suddenly. 

Zuiiega  flashed  upon  her  the  surprised  glance  of  his  great 
eyes,  in  the  depths  of  which  hid  the  melancholy  one  finds  in 
the  orbs  of  those  in  whose  veins  flows  a  trace  of  Carib  blood. 

"  What  uprising,  seiiorita  ?"  he  questioned  wonderingly. 

"  That  which  is  to  win  Cuba  her  freedom,"  she  replied,  as- 
tonished to  find  that  explanation  was  necessary. 

Zufiega's  marvellously  moulded  shoulders  moved  with  a 
suspicion  of  irresponsibility. 

"  How  should  I  know  anything  of  that,  seiiorita?"  he  que- 
ried puzzledly. 

"  Is  not  my  ransom  to  go  for  the  arming  of  Gonzalo  Alarcon's 
men  and  the  freedom  of  Cuba?"  demanded  Raquel. 

"  It  is  not  for  me  to  decide,  senorita,"  was  the  evasive 
reply,  as  he  bent  again  to  his  work. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  67 

With  swift  impulse,  Raquel  was  out  of  the  hut  and  facing 
him  before  he  divined  her  intention. 

"  You  shall  tell  me,"  she  cried  breathlessly.  "  Will  not  this 
gold  be  employed  to  provide  ammunition  for  you  against  the 
day  when  you  and  bands  like  yours  will  sweep  across  Cuba 
fighting  the  Spaniards  until  we  are  free?" 

Zuiiega  dropped  the  branches  he  held.  Pie  threw  out  both 
hands  with  the  palms  downward.     His  voice  was  full  of  shame. 

"  No,  seiiorita ;  no !"  he  said  gravely.  "  We  are  brigands — 
nothing  more !" 

Raquel  gave  an  exclamation  of  keenest  disappointment. 
She  stepped  backward,  scorn  in  her  face. 

"  You,  a  man,  dare  confess  yourself  not  a  patriot  when  Cuba 
is  languishing  for  the  strength  of  arms  like  yours!"  she  cried, 
the  fire  of  righteous  contempt  making  her  eyes  blaze.  "  Here 
in  this  mighty  forest  has  no  lesson  been  taught  you  but  rapine? 
The  unmistakable  speech  that  surrounds  you  here  is  the  pro- 
clamation of  the  tireless  green  life  which  continually  asserts 
the  sure  victory  of  'that  which  is  to  be'  over  'that  which  was.' 
It  is  the  prophecy  Nature  gives  us  that  the  old  rule  of  Spain 
must  give  way  to  the  young  blood  of  freedom-loving  Cuban 
hearts." 

She  pointed  up  to  where  bunches  of  string-like  growth  hung, 
sending  down  green  parasitic  ofifshoots  that  swayed  with  sin- 
uous, snake-like  movement. 

Zuiiega  followed  the  direction  of  her  glance  with  his  own. 
He  knew  well  that  soon  those  greedy,  caressing  tendrils  would 
attach  themselves  to  the  tree  nearest ;  that  they  would  wind 
themselves  about  its  trunk,  sending  down  to  the  ground  long, 
treacherous  fibres  to  root  again  and  send  out  still  more  fibres 
which  would  throw  themselves  about  their  patron ;  that  these 
inoffensive-appearing  air-roots  would  drink  the  life  and  feed 
on  the  substance  of  their  victim  until  finally  the  green  growth 
of  the  matapalos  would  hide  the  skeleton  of  the  object  on  which 
it  had  feasted. 

"  That  is  what  Spain  is  doing  to  Cuba,"  Raquel  told  him  im- 
pressively. "  That  parasitic  plant  is  Spain.  She  quarters  her 
soldiers  on  us  to  keep  us  in  tame  subjection  while  she  draws 
all  vitality  from  us.  And  this  very  army  which  feeds  on  us. 
fights  us,  defeats  us,  we  are  forced  to  pay!  Where  is  your 
spirit  that  these  things  do  not  move  you?     Were  I  you,  I  would 


68  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

be  one  of  Cuba's  heroes,  bold  and  noble,  instead  of  a  mountain 
bandit  whom  our  countrymen  fear  when  they  so  gladly  would 
revere  if  they  could." 

The  youth's  mobile  features  changed  in  expression  beneath 
her  words.  Into  his  eyes  crept  a  light  of  awakening.  His 
muscles  hardened  as  if  mentally  he  were  measuring  himself. 
With  his  uplifted  head  and  magnificent  physique,  he  was  a  fit 
model  for  a  sylvan  god.  He  had  the  appearance  of  having 
heard  a  clarion  call  over  the  heaven-piercing  tops  of  the  forest 
trees.  The  melancholy  of  his  sombre  eyes  had  been  chased 
away  by  an  odd  brilliancy  that  burned  its  way  into  Raquel's 
memory  as  he  brought  his  gaze  back  from  the  interlaced  vines 
above  them. 

"  No  es  posible  !  "  he  murmured  with  an  accent  of  hopeless- 
ness.    "  What  can  I?     I  am  Zutiega  only !" 

"  You  are  a  man,  with  courage  and  strength, '  she  returned, 
carried  away  by  the  enthusiasm  of  the  moment  and  the  fact 
that  she  had  stirred  perceptibly  this  forest  denizen  to  the 
need  of  his  land.     "  What  more  is  needed  but  the  will?" 

Zuiiega  stood  looking  at  her  aghast.  He  could  not  grasp 
the  possibilities  stretching  before  his  vision.  This  life  of 
mixed  freedom  and  exciting  danger  was  the  only  one  that  he 
had  known.  The  startling  suggestion  of  this  eager-ej'ed, 
white-robed  creature  came  upon  him  with  the  tremendous 
force  of  a  Niagara.  It  swept  him  from  his  moorings.  He  had 
an  inexplicable  feeling  that  he  had  been  taken  possession  of 
in  some  mysterious  way.  For  the  first  time  in  his  life  he  was 
conscious  of  a  sense  of  fear.  Something  cautioned  him  that 
Annizae  must  not  return  to  find  her  prisoner  standing  thus 
before  him.     He  motioned  significantly  toward  the  palm  hut. 

"  Annizae !"  he  warned. 

Raquel  moved  back  to  her  position  at  the  entrance. 

Zuiiega  went  on  dreamily  with  his  task,  scarce  noting  that 
he  did  so.  Unfledged  thoughts  crowded  through  his  disturbed 
mind.  He  essayed  to  regain  his  former  content.  It  was  not 
possible.  Ever5''thing  seemed  to  have  been  torn  away  from 
him  with  the  suddenness  of  a  whirlwind. 

No  more  words  were  uttered  between  them.  Raquel  ob- 
served his  movements  with  a  keen  interest  that  she  had  not 
felt  before.  Zuiiega  was  no  longer  to  her  mind  one  of  the 
men  among  whom  he  had  been  reared.     He  was  a  soul  ca- 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  69 

pable  of  being  moved  to  great  achievements.  She  decided  that 
as  she  sat  there,  giving  feminine  admiration  to  the  symmetry 
of  his  firm,  bronze,  muscular  development;  admiration  which 
no  artistic  eye  could  withhold.  Fresh  plans  were  taking  form 
in  her  mind.  She  wondered  if  she  could  persuade  this  youth 
to  assist  her  to  flee  from  Alarcon,  providing  that  the  ransom 
should  be  delayed.  She  had  moved  him  once  ;  might  she  not 
hope  to  do  so  again? 

Silent,  they  remained.  A  face  that  had  been  watching  them 
curiously  through  the  foliage  slipped  away  on  the  approach  of 
Annizae.     It  was  the  face  of  Faquita.     It  wore  a  peculiar  smile. 

Before  night,  Raquel  found  that  the  freshly  built  hut  was 
designed  for  her  occupancy.  After  darkness  had  shut  the 
camp  in  as  with  a  veil,  Annizae  signified  that  Raquel  was  to 
accompany  her  to  the  space  where  the  members  of  the  camp 
were  congregated  around  the  fire,  over  which  simmered  a  gar- 
licky soup  in  which  all  appeared  to  have  an  interest. 

There  was  something  savoring  of  witchcraft  in  the  scene  to 
Raquel.  In  fantastic,  tropical  garb,  devil-may-care  faces 
flitted  back  and  forth  through  the  lurid  light.  Each  helped 
himself  from  the  soup  and  seated  himself  with  his  portion 
on  the  spongy  carpet  of  the  woods. 

Urged  by  hunger,  Raquel  was  forced  to  accept  some  of  the 
concoction ;  and  she  sat  there  with  chills  pervading  her  as  she 
met  the  glances  and  sly  comments  cast  toward  her  occasion- 
ally from  swarthy  visages.  To  these  Zunega  responded  with 
warning  words  when  the  offence  was  flagrant.  Stationed  on 
the  ground  flat  at  her  feet  he  seemed  to  divine  her  fear,  for  he 
murmured  reassuringly : 

"  No  tenga  viiedo.  Have  no  fear,  seiiorita.  We  men  of  the 
mountains  have  few  pleasures.     You  one  will  see." 

Suddenly  from  out  the  enveloping  night  stole  a  mourn- 
ful, long-drawn  cry.  Raquel  would  have  leaped  up  in  alarm 
had  not  Zuiiega  placed  his  fingers  upon  hers  encouragingly. 
He  withdrew  his  hand  quickly  with  an  exclamation. 

"  What  is  it.'"  Raquel  questioned  of  him  troubledly. 

"  Yo  no  scT  was  his  mystified  reply,  looking  from  his  fin- 
gers up  into  her  face.     "  Your  touch  is  fire,  sefiorita!" 

"The  cry — "  she  repeated  anxiously,  not  heeding  his  note 
of  query  that  accompanied  the  explanation  which  lie  supposed 
she  sought. 


i6  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"Oh,  Faquita? — she  will  dance,"  he  said.  "  Mira  !  She 
comes.  In  Havana  she  danced.  It  is  not  always  that  she  will. 
This  night  she  wished  for  you  to  see  her." 

Raquel  peered  into  the  blackness  out  from  which  crept 
again  that  chilling  wail.  This  time  it  dropped  into  a  slow, 
mysterious  chant,  and  Faquita  flashed  out  of  the  darkness  of 
the  trees. 

About  her  waist  a  dazzling  girdle  of  iridescent  light  quiv- 
ered, emitted  by  a  double  row  of  cocullos,  Cuba's  wonderful 
fire-flies,  fastened  to  her  belt  by  the  little  natural  hooks  at  the 
heads  of  the  insects. 

Encircled  by  this  brilliant  zone,  with  wild  hair  and  wilder 
eyes,  she  began  to  move  slowly,  rhythmically  to  and  fro,  round 
and  round,  in  strange  gyrations,  unique,  graceful,  exercising 
on  the  spectators  an  influence  which  was  half  hypnotic. 

The  chant  quickened  into  a  rapid  melody,  high,  sweet,  and 
penetrating.  The  dancer  seemed  to  become  fascinated  with 
her  own  music.     Her  motions  grew  wilder,  more  impassioned. 

Those  to  whom  this  barbaric  dance  was  not  new  watched 
curiously  to  see  how  long  the  performer's  endurance  would 
hold  out. 

The  moments  appeared  interminable. 

Raquel  scarcely  breathed.  With  every  nerve  tense  she 
watched  until,  finally,  the  convolutions  became  less,  the  steps 
uncertain. 

At  last,  the  figure  wavered,  reeled,  and  would  have  fallen 
had  not  Zunega  sprung  and  caught  it  in  his  arms.  Exhausted 
though  she  was,  Faquita  contrived  to  drop  down  in  close  prox- 
imity to  Raquel. 

With  the  tenderness  of  womanly  interest,  Raquel  leaned 
over  the  prostrate  form  of  the  dancer.  In  spite  of  the  perils 
of  her  position,  she  was  attracted  by  this  gypsyish  piece  of 
femininity.  Moreover,  she  had  hopes  of  exciting  her  pity; 
but,  before  she  could  frame  her  desire  into  speech  even  had 
she  so  dared,  the  soft  voice  of  Faquita  whispered  cautiously: 

"  Steal  from  the  hut  while  he  sleeps,  senorita.  I  will  watch. 
I  will  take  you  to  your  father." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  71 


CHAPTER    VII. 

Ignorant  of  the  identity  of  this  man  whose  salutation  was 
so  friendly ;  unaware  that  a  price  in  excess  of  the  ransom  he 
demanded  for  the  stolen  seiiorita  had  been  placed  on  his  head 
by  a  nervous  government,  Lithgow  returned  the  greeting  of 
Alarcon  in  the  sala  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa  with  as  much  grace  as 
his  American  training  would  permit. 

M.  Theuriet  and  Gilbert  Palgrave  viewed  the  recognition 
with  pardonable  amazement. 

Lithgow  explained  his  previous  encounter  with  the  gentle- 
man. Alarcon  remained  quiet  with  the  same  smile  touching 
his  features. 

M.  Theuriet  contemplated  the  athletic  figure  of  the  bandit 
through  his  pince-nez ;  then  he  turned  questioningly  toward 
the  sugar  planter,  motioning  his  now  removed  spectacles 
toward  the  chief. 

"  Ees  zis  ze  man  who  demands  ze  ransom?" 

Palgrave  gave  an  affirmative  inclination  of  the  head. 

M.  Theuriet  inspected  Alarcon  again  very  critically,  be- 
ginning- at  the  spurred  boots  and  mounting  slowly  upward  to 
the  unreadable  eyes  that  looked  out  of  the  swarthy  visage. 

"  You  demand  what  sum,  setior?"  he  inquired  at  length. 

"  Ten  thousand  pesos,"  answered  Alarcon  promptly. 

The  Frenchman  gave  a  little  shriek  of  expostulation. 

"  Moil  Dieu  !     C  'est  impossible  !     I  can  secure  eet  not !" 

"Ten  thousand,  or  the  seiiorita  remains  with  us,"  replied 
Alarcon,  with  an  insolence  of  power  that  stirred  the  hot  blood 
in  all  three  of  his  hearers. 

The  face  of  M.  Theuriet  purpled  with  rage.  He  advanced 
threateningly  toward  the  gnerrilla,  looking  like  a  bantam 
rooster  challenging  a  game  bird. 

"  Cuiddc/o,  sciior  r  warned  Alarcon,  with  his  hands  on  the 
weapons  at  his  belt.  "  I  have  come  here  among  you  with  no 
protection  save  that  which  belongs  to  one  who  has  the  friend- 
liest intentions.  I  desire  to  aid  the  father  of  the  girl  to  secure 
her.  I  come  to  warn  him  that  no  time  is  to  be  lost.  Unless 
the  ransom  is  produced  quickly,  it  will  be  useless.     The  seuo- 


72  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

rita  will  have  been  made  the  wife  of  the  chief  of  the  band,  Gon- 
zalo  Alarcon." 

If  the  interest  of  the  American  had  needed  awakening,  those 
words  would  have  done  it.  Gonzalo  Alarcon !  He  remembered 
that  that  was  the  name  of  the  daring  brigand  of  whom  the  cap- 
tain had  spoken.  He  had  been  endlessly  cautioned  in  the  cit- 
ies against  this  individual,  in  whose  latest  victim  he  now  was 
destined  to  take  the  keenest  concern.  He  was  electrified  by 
the  discovery  that  this  man  before  him  was  the  emissary  of 
the  dreaded  bandit.  For  the  first  time  he  understood  the  real 
seriousness  of  the  girl's  position.  As  he  looked  at  the  firm, 
hard-featured  countenance  and  piercing,  masterful  eyes  of 
the  supposed  messenger  of  Alarcon,  he  felt  that  here  was  a 
later-day  edition  of  the  fearless  buccaneers  who  had  plied 
their  illegal  trade  through  the  Caribbean  waters,  flying  the 
black  flag  of  piracy. 

M.  Theuriet  had  stepped  backward,  his  pince-nez  dropping 
from  his  nerveless  fingers  and  dangling  agitatedly  by  the  chain. 
He  turned  from  the  determined  eyes  of  Alarcon  to  the  care- 
marked  visage  of  the  sugar  planter. 

"  Can  eet  be — vrai?"  he  asked  anxiously. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  it  is  only  too  true,"  Palgrave  answered 
despairingly,  "  It  is  wisest  to  lose  no  time.  I  sent  for  you, 
monsieur,  to  ask  you  to  leave  no  stone  unturned  to  secure  the 
gold  he  demands." 

"Eet  will  not  be  posseebl'  to  obtain  eet  for  some  days." 
He  shook  his  head  discouragingly. 

"  It  must  be  soon,  seiior,"  reminded  Alarcon  significantly. 

"  Eet  can  not  be  before  four  days,"  the  Frenchman  declared. 
"  Moreover,  I  can  get  not  more  zan  fiv'  zousand." 

"  It  must  be  ten  thousand!"  the  brigand  said  slowly,  with  a 
threat  in  his  voice.     "  Not  one  centavo  less." 

"  What  eef  I  cannot?" 
Alarcon  shrugged  his  shoulders  with  the  irresponsibility  of 
one  v/ho  has  not  matters  under  his  charge. 

"You   will    see   the   fair    seiiorita  no  more,    seiiors,  Dios 
sabe  !" 

The   father   shivered  with   the  words.      He  spoke  to  M. 
Theuriet  in  a  strained  tone  : 

"  You  swore  to  advance  any  sum,  monsieur,  if  I  accepted 
your  conditions.     I  agree  to  them ;  I  rather  had  see  her  your 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  73 

wife  than  the  mate  of  a  renegade,  a  convict,  if  tales  about  him 
are  true!     God  help  her  and  nie!" 

The  eyes  of  the  brigand  took  on  a  sinister  expression  with 
the  speech  of  the  sugar  planter.  For  an  instant  they  burned 
with  anger.  He  glanced  comprehendingly  from  the  French- 
man to  the  father.  He  understood  with  a  flash  the  conditions 
which  M.  Theuriet  had  exacted  in  exchange  for  his  loan.  His 
rage  at  the  aspersion  which  Gilbert  Palgrave  had  cast  at  him 
found  pleasure  in  the  quick  reflection  that  he  had  it  in  his 
power  not  only  to  thwart  the  designs  of  the  avaricious  old 
Frenchman,  but  also  to  retaliate  cruelly  on  the  planter.  It 
was  the  first  time  in  Cuba  that  Alarcon  had  heard  himself 
called  by  the  opprobrious  term  of  "  convict,"  and,  though  he 
well  knew  that  it  belonged  to  him  by  the  rights  of  justice,  the 
malice  which  it  awoke  in  him  was  none  the  less  keen. 

With  the  arrogance  of  man,  he  compared  mentally  his  well- 
knit  figure  and  superior  physical  attractions  with  those  of  the 
middle-aged  coffee-planter,  and  he  decided  that,  obliged  to 
choose,  Raquel  would  take  him,  his  love,  and  the  forest  life  in 
preference  to  years  spent  in  the  wearisome  society  of  old  age. 

To  Lithgow  the  entire  scene  was  more  like  a  portion 
from  some  opera  than  from  real  life.  The  novel  surroundings, 
tropical  and  sensuous  in  suggestion,  the  not  yet  familiar  faces 
of  the  two  planters,  the  half-bizarre  appearance  of  this  son  of 
forest-clad  mountains,  all  tended  to  make  him  doubt  the  ac- 
tuality of  the  occurrence.  It  seemed  odd  to  sit  thus  quietly 
while  the  fate  of  a  girl  not  yet  seen  was  decided  by  these 
methods.  He  had  a  wild  inclination  to  take  some  part  in  it 
himself,  but  he  was  not  appealed  to.  The  issue  of  the  entire 
matter  appeared  to  rest  with  his  host.  He  studied  the  form 
and  countenance  of  the  Frenchman  with  a  wondering  curiosity 
as  to  what  would  be  the  girl's  feelings  when  she  learned  on 
what  terms  her  freedom  had  been  purchased.  He  felt  an  un- 
mistakable pity  for  her.  He  could  not  believe  that  any  young 
girl  would  welcome  such  a  union.  He  thought  of  Beatrice. 
How  she  would  rave  over  the  physique  of  this  emissary  of 
Gonzalo  Alarcon !  When  she  should  receive  his  letter  con- 
taining a  graphic  account  of  these  adventures,  she  would  be 
sorry  enough  that  she  had  not  reconsidered  her  decision,  he 
told  himself  with  considerable  satisfaction. 

"  Would  eet  not  be  propair  to  hav'  an  agreement  drawn 


74  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

up?"  ventured  M.  Theuriet,  looking  at  his  neighbor.  "  Een 
eet  I  would  release  you,  inon  ami,  from  ze  burden  ov  all  pre- 
vious indebtedness.  I  would  agree  to  asseest  you  to  meet 
othair  encumbrances.  Eet  might  be  well : — ze  seiiorita  would 
comprehend  bettair.  ' 

Gilbert  Palgrave  drew  himself  up  with  the  sorrowful  pride 
of  a  man  who  will  accept  no  benefits. 

"  Is  not  my  word  sufficient,  Theuriet?"  he  demanded.  "  If 
an  agreement  is  drawn  up,  there  must  be  inserted  in  it  the 
clause  that  she  is  free  to  choose.  She  shall  not  be  forced  into 
defraying  such  a  debt.  I  will  work  on  the  Havana  docks  as  a 
laborer  first.  If  she  is  willing  to  accept  your  offer  of  marriage, 
that  is  another  thing.  But— I  prefer  to  remain  your  debtor, 
monsieur.  Gladly  I  will  assume  this  additional  debt  rather 
than  permit  her  to  be  influenced  against  the  dictates  of  her 
heart.  You  know  the  value  of  my  word.  You  shall  have  in- 
terest on  your  loans,  compound  interest.  Every  centavo  shall 
be  repaid." 

A  wave  of  feeling  swept  from  the  Frenchman's  face  the 
business  expression.  The  words  of  Palgrave  seemed  to  have 
hurt  him. 

"  I  hav'  watched  her  grow  into  ze  most  beautiful  woman- 
hood," he  said  in  a  pathetic  tone.  "  I  hav'  desired  her  for  my 
wife,  abov'  all  othairs.  She  will  be  a  parfait  queen.  Een 
Havana  she  will  be  admired,  I  hav'  years  more  zan  she.  She 
will  not  look  upon  my  suit  wiz  plaisir,  but  I  will  be  so  kind 
to  her  zat  she  will  learn  to  lov'.  Every  wish  shall  be  grati- 
fied." 

His  voice  was  freighted  with  anxiety.  He  bent  his  thin, 
small  frame  toward  her  father  with  the  air  of  a  supplicant. 

The  American  glanced  from  the  two  toward  the  straight 
figure  of  Alarcon  with  scathing  eyes.  He  would  not  have 
thought  that  any  type  of  manhood  could  witness  this  conver- 
sation immoved.  He  sought  to  fathom  the  thoughts  of  this 
man  who  watched  the  speakers  through  narrowed  lids.  As  if 
conscious  of  Lithgow's  gaze,  the  chief  flashed  a  look  toward 
him,  then  gave  his  attention  to  M.  Theuriet  again. 

Though  Lithgow  could  not  read  it  in  his  face,  Alarcon  had 
decided  that  the  ransom  to  be  won  in  this  manner  could  be 
secured  in  another  way,  the  contemplation  of  which  gave  a 
little  amused  twitch  to  his  mustache  which  he  stroked  reflec- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  75 

lively.  What  was  to  prevent  the  capture  of  M.  Theuriet  him- 
self one  of  these  days?  The  gold  would  be  forthcoming  then 
speedily.  And,  in  the  interval  of  imprisonment,  the  French- 
man could  have  the  doubtful  pleasure  of  witnessing  the  senor- 
ita's  happiness  as  Gonzalo  Alarcon's  wife. 

"Pardon,  seiiors,"  he  spoke  finally.  "There  is  one  diffi- 
culty ;  the  chief  will  not  relinquish  the  seiiorita  to  the  arms 
of  a  rival  like  M.  Theuriet.     Adios .'" 

He  bowed  with  a  low  sweep  of  his  sombrero  and  moved 
with  easy  dignity  out  through  the  bloom  of  the  court  to  the 
great  entrance,  his  spurs  clattering  with  metallic  ring  as  he 
crossed  the  tiled  floor. 

Theuriet  stood  aghast.  Such  a  possibility  as  this  had  not 
presented  itself  to  his  mind.  Gilbert  Palgrave  had  sprung  up 
with  alarm  as  he  saw  this  one  chance  of  securing  Raquel  torn 
away  from  him. 

"  Stop  him !     Stop  the  devil !"  he  cried. 

But  it  was  too  late.  Without  a  backward  look,  Alarcon 
was  gone. 

Making  his  way  swiftly  to  the  spot  where  he  had  tethered 
his  horse  the  night  previous,  he  sprung  into  the  saddle  with 
a  laugh  half  of  triumph,  and  soon  was  pushing  his  path  through 
the  forest  again,  his  thoughts  on  the  girl  he  meant  to  make  his 
own  despite  Faquita  or  the  murmurs  of  those  in  the  camp  who 
would  grumble  at  his  failure  to  obtain  the  gold. 

In  the  mean  time,  in  the  soft  gloom  of  the  taper-lighted 
palm  hut,  Raquel's  active  mind  turned  over  Faquita's  words 
with  nervous  anxiety.  She  peered  out  fearfully  into  the 
awful  blackness  of  the  night-shrouded  trees. 

Had  Faquita  been  in  earnest?  Should  she  venture?  How 
was  she  to  cross  successfully  the  prostrate  form  of  Zuncga 
stretched  in  front  of  the  entrance?  She  knew  that  he  did  not 
sleep,  for  occasionally  he  lifted  his  head  in  an  alert  way  that 
betokened  ill  to  any  hope  of  escape.  In  the  opposite  hut,  she 
knew  that  Annizae  was  stationed.  Were  her  eyes  wide  with 
watchfulness  also? 

She  held  her  breath,  listening,  listening,  desirous  of  at- 
tempting to  slip  away,  yet  fearful  of  recapture  and  close 
guarding. 

The  moments  seemed  so  hideously  long  that  she  could  not 
tell  whether  hours  or  seconds  crept  past. 


76  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

Finally  she  dared  to  lift  herself  into  a  sitting  posture  on 
the  side  of  her  bed.  Zuiiega  moved  not.  Slowly,  on  limbs 
that  trembled,  she  raised  herself  to  an  upright  posture.  She 
stood  thus  motionless  for  some  time,  listening  again.  She 
took  a  step;  paused;  listened.  Another  step,  holding  her 
robe  above  her  ankles.  As  she  neared  the  entrance  she  could 
hear  the  regular  breathing  of  her  guard ;  it  was  not  the  breath 
of  deep  sleep  however ;  she  was  not  certain  that  he  slept  at  all. 
She  waited  and  waited,  her  heart  beating  so  fiercely  that  she 
thought  the  sound  of  it  would  reach  his  ears. 

Little  by  little,  she  edged  nearer  him.  She  lifted  still 
higher  the  draperies  with  which  she  had  been  gowned  at  the 
time  of  capture,  but,  unknown  to  her,  one  corner  dropped  from 
her  grasp  and  trailed  behind  her.  Palpitating  with  fear,  she 
contrived  to  step  lightly  over  him  and,  like  a  bird,  darted 
toward  the  dense  undergrowth  in  a  blind  way.  As  she  ran.  a 
hand  caught  hers  and  urged  her  on;  the  hand  of  Faquita,  who 
had  lain  in  hiding  for  hours,  watching  the  entrance,  fearful 
that  her  bidding  would  not  be  obeyed.  On  they  sped,  igno- 
rant of  the  fact  that  the  trailing  wisp  of  Raquel's  drapery  had 
touched  Zuiiega's  face  and  brought  him  to  his  feet  in  time  to 
see  a  faint  suspicion  of  white  disappear.  He  rushed  after  her, 
knowing  what  it  would  mean  to  her  to  be  lost  in  that  forest. 
Alone,  unpiloted,  she  might  wander  for  weeks  only  to  sink  to 
death  in  exhaustion  at  last. 

As  he  made  his  way  through  the  darkness,  a  revelation  was 
borne  in  upon  him.  Without  putting  it  into  speech,  Zuiiega 
knew  that  with  the  advent  of  the  seiiorita  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa 
into  the  camp  something  had  come  to  him  for  which  he  knew 
no  name  save  that  reverence  with  which  he  had  paused  before 
the  little  wayside  shrines  that  held  the  tiny,  weatherbeaten 
image  of  the  Madre  de  Dios,  Mother  of  Jesu.  With  a  great 
light,  the  realization  flashed  over  him  that  without  her  pres- 
ence the  camp  never  could  be  the  same  to  him  again.  A 
glorious  sense  of  power  was  with  him  as  he  dashed  into  the 
underbrush.  He  meant  to  find  her  if  it  meant  endless  seeking. 
The  fever  of  pursuit  was  in  his  veins.  Like  Apollo  after 
Daphne,  he  rushed  headlong. 

Suddenly  he  stopped  short,  with  a  queer,  sick  feeling  of 
disappointment  pervading  him.  There  was  no  sign  of  her 
white  garments — nothing  whatever  to  guide  him.     He  threw 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUP  A.  77 

up  his  head  and  listened.  His  nostrils  dilated  with  excite- 
ment. Not  a  sound  reached  him  but  the  familiar  murmur  of 
the  forest. 

"She  has  fallen!"  he  whispered  to  himself.  "She  has 
wounded  herself.  She  has  not  gone  afar;  not  a  movement 
can  escape  me." 

Even  as  he  spoke,  he  stumbled  and  fell,  himself.  He  caught 
a  little  muffled  cry  of  alarm.  Overjoyed,  he  laid  his  hands  on 
the  object  beneath  his  feet. 

To  his  surprise  he  felt  himself  seized  by  a  tenacious  grasp 
and  a  hand  went  over  his  mouth,  while  Faquita's  voice  whis- 
pered : 

"  Hush !  Not  a  word !  Thou  shalt  help  us  to  get  away. 
ZuTiega." 

"  Thou  ?     Faquita?"  he  cried  in  amazement. 

"  Hush !"  she  repeated  warningly.  "  What  is  there  strange 
in  that  I  am  here?" 

"  But  the  seiiorita !     Where  is  the  sefiorita?"  he  demanded. 

Faquita  moved  from  where  she  crouched  and  revealed  that 
her  own  garments  had  concealed  the  white  ones  of  Raquel. 

"  I  take  her  again  to  her  home,"  she  said  determinedly. 
"  Gonzalo  Alarcon  shall  not  make  of  her  life  what  he  has  made 
of  mine.     Thou  shalt  help  us,  Zunega!" 

"  Nunca !"  refused  Zunega.  "  What  thinkest  I  am?  Is  she 
not  under  my  care?     Am  I  not  to  be  held  responsible?" 

"  Thou  needst  fear  nothing,"  returned  Faquita.  "  All  that 
thou  dost  need  do  is  to  secure  one  of  the  caballos  and  take  it 
to  the  paso.  We  will  meet  thee  there.  Alarcon  will  never 
know  that  thou  hadst  any  part  in  it." 

"  That  is  like  thy  reasoning,"  scorned  Zuiiega.  "  How  can 
I  account  for  her  slipping  past  me?     Can  I  say  that  I  slept?" 

"  S{,  for  thou  didst,"  laughed  Faquita  cautiously.  "  Have 
it  as  thou  wilt,  but  I  tell  thee  that  never  shall  Alarcon  place 
her  over  me.  If  this  fails,  another  will  not!  For  the  sake  of 
the  sefiorita  it  is  well  that  she  goes  now ;  thou  knowest  that 
as  well  as  I.  All  the  camp  knows  it.  She  will  die  here;  she 
fears  Alarcon:  /love  him;  there  is  the  difference." 

At  the  mere  suggestion  of  the  sefiorita  succeeding  Faquita 
in  the  afTections  of  the  chief,  the  blood  surged  away  from  his 
heart,  then  rushed  again  through  it  with  a  miglity  leap  that 
left  him  strangely  weak. 


78  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Gonzalo  will  kill  thee  if  this  is  done,"  he  told  her 
slowly. 

"  What  matter?"  queried  Faquita  lightly.  "  It  is  easier  to 
die  by  knife  than  by  jealousy.  But,  we  waste  time!  If  thou 
art  too  cowardly  to  aid  us,  at  least  thou  must  not  awaken  the 
camp.     Promise  that?" 

Into  Zuiiega's  strong  fingers  crept  those  of  Raquel  plead- 
ingly. He  knew  that  they  were  not  those  of  Faquita,  for 
their  touch  stung  his  blood  into  riotous  action  as  they  had 
once  before. 

He  heard  her  whisper  with  anxious  entreaty : 

"  For  the  sake  of — my  honor !  For  the  sake  of  my  father, 
oh,  do  not  refuse !" 

Zuiiega  felt  himself  waver  before  the  inexplicable  power 
of  her  voice  as  the  cane-tips  bend  beneath  the  force  of  the 
winds  of  the  savannahs.  The  temptation  of  his  life  faced  him 
there  in  the  tropical  midnight,  fragrant  with  a  thousand  subtle 
perfumes.  To  help  her  meant  to  shut  himself  out  forever  from 
this  camp  which  was  home.  He  knew  Alarcon ;  and  was  aware 
that  such  a  violation  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him  would  be  met 
with  sure  retribution  even  if  Alarcon's  hand  was  years  in  ac- 
complishing it.  But  opposed  to  this  picture  was  the  prospect 
awaiting  the  girl ;  a  prospect  which  his  fiercely  beating  blood 
told  him  in  unmistakable  language  was  one  which  he  never 
could  permit  to  meet  fulfillment. 

As  he  stood  thus,  her  hand  pressing  his  hopefully  in  the 
sweet  darkness,  all  this  passed  swiftly  before  his  mental  vi- 
sion ;  the  senorita  the  mate  of  the  chief,  or  himself  a  wanderer, 
fleeing  ever  from  Alarcon's  determined  revenge.  With  pas- 
sionate disregard  for  danger,  his  heart  chose  the  latter  exult- 
antly. At  that  moment  it  seemed  an  ecstatic  happiness  to 
be  able  to  give  up  all  for  her.  Then,  following,  swept  over 
him  suggestions  of  other  lives  than  this  nomad  one.  He  knew 
that  there  were  others,  though  their  apparent  tameness  never 
had  tempted  him  to  relinquish  the  exhilarating  experiences  of 
an  outlaw  existence.  There  returned  to  him  her  words  of  the 
afternoon.  Though  the  wild  freedom  of  this  brigand  life 
might  be  closed  to  him,  it  was  true  that  Cuba  remained  to  be 
fought  for — Cuba  and  the  commendation  of  this  girl  who  had 
crossed  his  path  and  strangely  turned  its  direction,  almost 
without  his  volition. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  79 

"  Vayamos  f  urged  Faquita  impatiently.  "  Let  us  go! 
Annizae  will  waken  next." 

He  loosened  the  fingers  that  she  held  so  tightly.  He 
thought  that  he  heard  a  quick  sob  of  disappointment. 

"  Comest  thou  with  us?"  whispered  Faquita,  persuasively, 
once  more. 

His  throat  contracted.  It  seemed  to  him  that  an  iron  hand 
choked  him  as  he  made  his  renunciation  silently. 

"  Go  to  the  paso !"  he  answered  at  last.  "  1  will  be  there 
with  the  caballo." 


CHAPTER   Vni. 

Strong  with  excitement,  Raquel  followed  Faquita's  lead 
with  feet  that  rebelled  against  the  slowness  with  which  they 
were  compelled  to  move  through  a  darkness  beside  which  night 
itself  would  be  luminous.  Faquita  held  back  thick  ropes  of 
lianes  to  afford  her  a  pathway,  and  assisted  her  over  mould- 
ering tree-trunks  that  sometimes  seemed  to  crumble  at  their 
approach. 

The  suspense  and  exhilaration  of  fear  that  accompanied 
that  flight  by  night  through  the  mysterious  Cuban  forest, 
where  there  were  vines  the  icy  touch  of  which  was  as  deadly 
as  the  snake-bite  of  the  Area.d  fer-de-hj/icc  of  the  Windward 
Islands! 

Raquel's  breath  began  to  come  in  little,  eager,  tired  gasps 
that  revealed  how  near  to  exhaustion  she  was  with  this  unac- 
customed exertion  of  battling  with  the  impregnable  walls  of 
Nature.  She  had  a  strange,  bewildered  feeling  that  she  had 
lived  through  this  identical  experience  before.  Her  head 
whirled  with  her  effort  to  keep  pace  with  Faquita's  move- 
ments, but  her  mind  was  alert  with  queer  thoughts  that  the 
night-hush  of  the  forest  seemed  to  breed.  Here,  one  could 
believe  in  a  limitless  past  through  which  one  might  have  lived 
out  lives  without  number,  casting  each  behind  him  as  a  snake 
casts  its  skin,  the  butterfly  its  chrysalis. 

They  found  Zuiiega  waiting  for  them  in  the  gloom  of  the 
paso,  a  rift  in  the  mountains  that  permitted  the  light  of  the 
stars  to  penetrate  to  the  secrets  of  the  softly  growing  forest 
things. 


8o  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA, 

"Dos  cal'allos,"  exclaimed  Faquita,  with  surprise  when  she 
discerned  that  he  held  two  horses.     "  Forque?" 

For  reply,  he  silently  placed  her  on  one  of  the  animals  and 
Raquel  on  the  other,  vaulting  lightly  up  behind  the  latter. 

Tactfully,  Faquita  refrained  from  questioning.  In  fact,  it 
might  be  said  that  her  amazement  kept  her  quiet.  Guiding 
the  horse  himself,  he  took  the  lead,  and  Faquita  followed,  seek- 
ing in  her  mind  some  solution  of  this  change  in  him.  She 
finally  reached  the  conclusion  that,  when  he  felt  that  he  had 
piloted  them  beyond  danger  of  pursuers,  he  would  return  with 
greater  speed  to  the  camp  by  means  of  the  second  horse,  leav- 
ing them  to  find  their  way  on  to  the  plantation  highways. 
But,  just  as  she  had  decided  this,  Zuiiega  turned  his  head  over 
his  shoulder  and  said : 

"  Thou  canst  return  to  the  camp  if  thou  wilt,  Faquita. 
Alarcon  need  not  know  of  thy  part  in  this  matter.  I  will  take 
the  seilorita  to  the  plantation  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa." 

"  Art  thou  mad?"  exclaimed  Faquita  in  amazement.  "  Alar- 
con will  riddle  thee  with  bullets.  Return  quickly,  Zunega! 
He  will  not  dare  give  to  me  the  hatred  he  will  give  thee.  I 
can  win  him  as  thou  canst  not." 

"  I  return  no  more,"  answered  Zuiiega  briefly,  pushing  on 
through  the  thicket  with  an  increase  of  speed.  He  felt  the 
form  of  the  girl  that  he  half  held  in  his  arms  give  a  start  of 
surprise. 

"  What  meanest  thou?"  demanded  Faquita  sharply,  en- 
deavoring vainly  to  urge  her  horse  abreast  of  his.  "  Wilt  thou 
desert  the  camp?    Thy  life  will  not  be  worth  a  medio,  Zunega." 

"  Not  if  Alarcon  finds  me,"  he  admitted,  "  but  he  shall  not 
find  me !" 

Faquita  almost  groaned. 

"  Thou  knowest  him,"  she  reminded.  "  Think  well,  Zune- 
ga. It  is  foolish  to  risk  all  for  the  little  setiorita.  /  have  a 
reason  for  venturing  so  much.  I  mean  to  teach  him  that 
Faquita  is  first — and  last !" 

"  How  knowest  thou  but  that  I  have  a  reason  also?"  queried 
the  youth. 

"  It  is  because  I  have  urged  thee,"  Faquita  regretted. 

"  Who  knows  ?"  smiled  he  in  the  darkness.  "  Thou  shouldst 
not  thus  grieve;  I  make  it  easy  for  thee  to  go  back.  Thou 
canst  escape  his  anger." 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  8 1 

"  No  ;  Faquita,  no !  Leave  me  not !"  cried  Raquel  fearfully, 
suspicious  that,  if  she  were  deserted  by  the  other,  Zunega 
might  circle  around  to  the  camp  and  replace  her  in  her  former 
imprisonment  out  of  his  sense  of  obedience  to  some  bandit  code 
of  honor.  .  His  announcement  that  he  did  not  intend  returning 
to  his  companions  she  believed  was  only  made  to  increase  her 
confidence  in  him. 

Faquita  hesitated.  She  reasoned  that  if  Zuiiega  really  was 
determined  to  risk  himself  thus,  there  was  no  need  of  both  of 
them  incurring  the  chief's  displeasure;  but  Raquel's  plea  de- 
cided her  to  go  on  at  least  a  little  farther.  Perhaps  she  was 
actuated  somewhat  by  her  indisputable  curiosity  to  learn  more 
if  possible  as  to  Zunega's  real  intentions.  Not  for  a  moment 
did  she  attribute  his  strange  decision  to  the  fiery  words  she 
had  heard  Raquel  deliver  to  him  during  the  previous  after- 
noon. She  supposed  of  course  that  the  declaration  of  her  own 
jealousy  and  disinclination  to  be  supplanted  had  been  the  spur 
for  his  chivalrous  action,  his  effort  to  move  from  her  path  the 
rival  that  she  feaied. 

"  Miiy  bicn,  senoriia  mm,  I  will  not  leave  thee  imtil  thou  art 
within  thy  father's  walls,"  she  agreed  finally.  "  Thou  needst 
not  fear." 

Zuiiega  said  nothing  further. 

With  the  instinct  of  the  race  from  which  had  come  his 
strange  beauty,  his  waving  blue-black  hair,  his  marvellous 
coloring, — the  Caribs — he  fought  undcviatingly  through  the 
forest  for  the  straightest  route  to  safety,  battling  successfully 
with  the  oppositions  which  Nature  interposed  at  every  step. 

They  went  on  silently  for  fully  two  hours.  The  stupen- 
dous radiance  of  another  day  had  swept  up  the  cast,  but 
through  the  dense  foliage  that  closed  about  them  it  pene- 
trated but  little,  only  making  their  outlines  appear  ghostly  as 
they  stole  on.  Their  horses'  feet  sank  with  muffled  tread  in 
the  dust  of  the  centuries  that  lay  beneath  the  mighty  arches 
of  this  cathedral  which  ever-springing  green  life  had  built 
with  mystic  touch. 

Suddenly  Raquel  pitched  forward.  Zuiicga's  hand,  hold- 
ing the  bridle,  alone  saved  her  from  what  would  have  been  a 
disastrous  fall  had  her  head  hit  any  of  the  thickly  up-cropping 
tree-trunks.  With  an  exclamation  of  alarm  he  pulled  her  back 
forcilily  into  his  arms,  and  found  that  she  had  fainted  from 
6 


82  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

sheer  exhaustion.  They  could  not  know  that  she  resolutely 
had  ridden  mile  after  mile  with  her  teeth  cutting  through  her 
nether  lip  in  the  futile  endeavor  to  overcome  the  horrible  sense 
of  sickness  that  drew  her  the  more  irresistibly  into  its  grasp 
with  every  step  that  the  horses  took. 

"  Dios  mio  !  "  he  cried  in  consternation.  "  What  is  to  be  done? 
If  we  dismount  here,  nothing  will  be  gained.  A  little  further 
will  bring  us  to  the  Cdrcel  de  Diablo.  A  subterranean  stream 
flows  through  it.     We  may  be  safe  there.     Will  it  do  to  wait?" 

"  Yo  no  se,"  answered  Faquita  troubledly.  "  If  we  had 
aguardiente!  If  thou  wilt  dismount  I  will  rub  her  hands. 
She  may  recover." 

Zunega  studied  Raquel's  pale  face  anxiously.  In  the  wan, 
greenish  twilight  of  the  trees,  she  wore  an  unearthly  appear- 
ance. 

"  It  may  be  as  well  to  dismount  here,"  he  admitted  reluc- 
tantly. "  I  will  slip  her  down  into  thine  arms.  If  only  we 
could  get  her  to  the  bottom  of  the  canyon !  There  will  be 
water  to  revive  her." 

Faquita  received  Raquel's  inanimate  form  gently  and 
placed  her  in  a  recumbent  position.  Both  of  them  worked 
assiduously  over  her  for  some  minutes,  until  finally,  dis- 
couraged, Zuiiega  picked  the  prostrate  girl  up  lightly  and 
strode  on. 

"  Lead  the  caballos!"  he  called  to  Faquita.  "  It  is  danger- 
ous. Every  step  must  be  taken  with  caution.  We  had  gone 
farther  than  I  thought." 

After  a  short  descent  he  paused  and  deposited  Raquel  on 
the  earth  again,  while  he  took  the  horses  from  Faquita's  hold 
and  tied  them  securely  until  such  time  as  he  could  return  for 
them.  Then,  re-assuming  his  burden,  he  picked  his  way  care- 
fully down  the  precipitous  wall  of  the  cleft  mountain  to  the 
torrent  below  rushing  madly  over  a  rocky  bed,  foaming,  seeth- 
ing, whirling  in  its  haste  to  reach  the  sea.  The  green  draper- 
ies of  the  mountain-side  overhung  its  brink ;  venturesome  palms 
had  thrust  themselves  out  at  right  angles  from  the  common 
foliage ;  lianes  had  crept  out  over  these  and  drooped  in  fes- 
toons above  the  leaping  waters,  so  that  from  mountain  tc 
mountain,  which  this  aqueous  ribbon  separated,  had  been 
flung  an  arch  of  emerald  tint  that  excluded  the  sunlight  and 
Blade  the  depths  of  the  river  as  black  as  Acheron  itself. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CTBA.  83 

On  the  stones  at  the  side  of  the  stream  Raquel  was  lain, 
while  Faquita  dexterously  resuscitated  lier.  Zunega,  with 
strange  thoughts  in  hisbrain,  watched  her  being  brought  back 
to  consciousness.  That  perilous  descent  with  her  in  his  arms 
had  given  birth  to  ideas  which  never,  before  her  coming,  had 
been  known  to  his  philosophy.  He  stared  at  her  unresponsive 
features  with  questioning  eyes.  What  was  there  about  her  fra- 
gile, unconscious  form  to  move  him  so?  In  that  moment  he 
touched  the  mystery  of  human  life:  and  the  forest  about  him 
might  have  whispered  that  the  day  never  would  come  when 
he  could  fathom  the  secret  of  the  power  that  shook  him,  any 
more  than  he  comprehended  it  now  when  its  blinding  light  fell 
upon  him  for  the  first  time.  For  the  one  real  passion  that 
comes  to  the  soul  of  the  human  defies  description,  analysis, 
comprehension.  It  only  can  be  accepted  gratefully  and  per- 
mitted to  fulfill  its  destined  mission  of  ennobling,  purifying, 
uplifting. 

When  she  had  been  brought  tea  knowledge  of  their  sur- 
roundings, he  went  back  for  the  horses  and  succeeded  in  lead- 
ing them  down  the  cliffs  after  a  vast  amount  of  persuasion.  In 
the  mean  time,  Faquita,  urged  b)'  her  own  hunger,  had  gone  in 
search  of  the  forest  fruits  which  were  certain  to  be  found  near. 
Left  alone,  Raquel  had  remained  recumbent,  hoping  to  gain 
strength  for  the  journey  that  lay  before  them.  While  elation 
was  in  her  heart,  her  body  refused  to  respond  to  the  urgings 
of  her  mind,  and  she  lay  weak  and  tired  close  to  the  tumbling 
waters  that  dashed  their  spray  on  her  face  as  they  swept  wildly 
over  the  rocks. 

Her  thoughts  were  with  her  father.  Did  his  anxious  heart 
have  a  premonition  that  she  was  coming  toward  him?  In 
memory  she  went  slowly  over  the  entire  ingenio,  accosted 
each  black  and  was  welcomed  vociferously.  The  mental  pic- 
ture won  a  smile  to  her  lips.  She  lived  her  return  in  imagi- 
nation. She  touched  with  delight  the  dear  old  books.  She  felt 
that  hereafter  she  should  love  the  monotony  which  she  had 
thought  so  irksome.  But  even  the  hunger  for  home  could 
not  render  her  oblivious  to  the  wonders  of  the  bloom  that  hung 
above  her,  a  veritable  Solomon's  hanging  garden  with  all  the 
brilliant  lianes,  orchids  of  delicate  hues,  and  strange  sister 
parasites  dangling  from  every  limb,  swaying  slightly  like  pen- 
dulums. 


84  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  I  wonder  are  they  Nature's  time-keepers,"  she  murmured 
musingly.  "  This  is  the  spot  of  which  Tennyson  must  have 
been  thinking  when  he  wrote  the '  Lotos-Eaters !'  Here,  in  the 
heart  of  prolific  tropical  vegetation,  time  almost  seems  to 
swoon  and  pause  awhile  in  its  mad  race !" 

Half  in  dreams,  Zuiiega  found  her  when  he  returned. 

He  sat  down  near  and  watched  her,  his  great  eyes  veiled 
with  the  soft  mist  of  melancholy.  He  was  wondering  what  he 
should  do  when  she  was  once  again  within  her  father's  protec- 
tion. He  could  make  his  way  to  the  cities.  He  could  secure 
work  until  the  time  came  to  enter  into  Cuba's  struggle,  but, — 
could  he  live  away  from  the  forest?  He  had  not  known  that 
he  loved  it  until  now,  when  he  contemplated  leaving  its  safe 
shelter  and  nourishing  resources.  He  reached  and  plucked 
some  dark,  shiny  leaves  tenderly.  There  was  that  in  his  face 
which  riveted  Raquel's  attention.  She  remembered  his  de- 
claration that  he  would  not  return  to  the  camp.  Observing 
him,  she  realized  that  it  was  the  inestimable  service  which  he 
was  rendering  her  that  was  shutting  him  out  from  the  career 
he  had  known.  His  manner  now  convinced  her  beyond  any 
manner  of  doubt  that  he  had  had  no  ulterior  motive  in  thus 
taking  the  escape  into  his  own  hands,  and  she  was  seized  with 
a  sudden  desire  to  know  what  were  his  plans.  She  had  not 
vanity  sufficient  to  believe  that  her  words  were  wholly  respon- 
sible for  this  relinquishment  of  all  that  had  made  his  life. 

"  If  you  go  no  more  back  to  Alarcon's  band,  what  shall  you 
do?"  she  asked  him  as  she  propped  herself  against  a  giant  trunk 
that  shot  upward  toward  the  sky  from  this  deep  gorge. 

"  Dios  sabe,  ^(?;7t^r/Ai,"  he  replied  gently.  "God  knows,  not 
I.  When  the  day  comes,  I  will  fight  for  Cuba  as  you  told  me ; 
but  until  then, — who  knows?" 

Raquel  was  silent.  This  simple  avowal  that  he  had  been 
swayed  by  her  scorn  brought  to  her  an  odd  embarrassment 
which  she  did  not  analyze.  She  glanced  at  him  from  under 
her  lids  with  unconquerable  curiosity.  He  was  not  looking  at 
her.  His  gaze  was  fixed  on  the  waters  that  swirled  by  them. 
Finally,  pointing  to  where  sharp  rocks  rose  out  of  the  middle 
of  the  river,  he  said  slowly : 

"  After  the  last  insurrection,  sei^orita,  it  is  said  that  Louis 
Honorvath  threw  himself  on  these  rocks  from  above.  Im- 
prisonment was  to  be  his — or  death.     The  home  of  him  and 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  85 

his  men  was  here  in  these  mountains,  in  the  caves  that  the  rush 
of  the  underground  rivers  have  hollowed  out." 

"  And  those  same  caves  will  be  the  homes  of  other  men 
with  the  same  mission,"  Raquel  found  herself  saying  to  him. 
"  Here  and  there  arise  the  natures  that  are  destined  for  such 
works  as  lie  before  the  Cuban.  They  rise  above  their  fellow- 
men  with  the  same  irresistible  impulse  of  growth  that  sends 
the  palm  upward,  far  above  its  associates.  Where  is  the  man 
who  will  lead  Cuba's  next  rebellion?" 

"  I  will  follow  him,"  Zunega  replied  in  a  low  voice.  "  You 
have  spoken  words  that  will  not  be  forgotten." 

He  turned  his  marvellous  eyes  toward  hers.  There  was 
that  in  the  meeting  that  was  like  a  flash  of  recognition  that 
neither  of  them  fully  understood.  Moved  by  an  unfamiliar 
emotion,  Raquel  dragged  her  gaze  from  his  peculiar  one  by 
force  of  will.     That  moment  long  remained  in  her  memory. 

Faquita  came  toward  them,  bearing  the  result  of  her  search. 
The  three  ate  the  luscious  fruit  together,  and  Zunega  and 
Faquita  were  relieved  to  see  that  Raquel  brightened  visibly 
when  thus  refreshed. 

"  We  must  creep  along  the  side  of  the  river  as  far  as  pos- 
sible," Zunega  told  them.  "  We  shall  be  in  no  danger  of  en- 
countering Alarcon  here  as  we  might  over  the  mountain. 
When  the  stream  seeks  an  underground  passage  again,  we  can 
skirt  the  shoulder  of  the  mountain.  It  will  take  more  hours 
but  means  safety." 

"  How  shall  I  ever  repay  both  of  you?"  cried  Raquel,  with 
a  burst  of  gratitude.  "  You,  Faquita,  you  ought  to  remain  and 
be  my  sister.     I  have  had  none.     You  would  be  happy  so, — woT 

Faquita  shook  her  head. 

"  Once  I  knew  a  home,  a  father,  sisters,"  she  said  slowly. 
"  They  have  forgotten  me  long  ago.  My  only  home  now  is  the 
forest.  I  shall  be  happy  in  that  I  have  outwitted  Gonzalo  Alar- 
con.    That  is  all  tlic  recompense  I  crave,  senorita." 

Raquel  did  not  glance  at  Zunega  as  she  inquired: 

"  Know  you  what  I  can  do  for  you — senor?  I  fear  there  is  lit- 
tle I  can  offer,  save  the  thankfulness  of  the  house  of  Palgrave." 

Zunega  bowed  low  before  her  with  all  the  courtly  grace  of 
a  kingly  race.     His  sombrero  swept  the  moss  on  the  stones. 

"  Has  the  sciiorita  not  given  me  the  chance  to  serve  her?' 
he  asked  softly.     "  It  is  suliieient." 


86  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Faquita's  astute  knowledge  enabled  her  to  read  further  than 
even  Zunega  could  into  his  own  heart.  His  words  and  his 
manner  revealed  to  her  the  secret  of  his  assistance.  She  shot 
a  swift  look  at  Raquel.  She  perceived  that  the  girl  was  as  yet 
ignorant  of  the  passion  she  had  awakened  in  the  heart  of  the 
man  before  her. 

"  Vayamos  r  she  cried  abruptly.  "  Surely  it  is  time  to 
move.     The  seiiorita  is  better — no?" 

"  Ah,  let  us  go!"  echoed  Raquel  impatiently.  "  Every  mo- 
ment of  delay  means  that  much  more  suffering  for  my  father. 
I  am  strong  again.     I  can  endure  anything.     Let  us  go !" 

"  Can  you  ride  alone?"  inquired  Zunega.  "  It  is  necessary 
that  I  go  ahead  and  cut  a  passage." 

"  There  is  nothing  I  cannot  do, — if  I  must,"  answered  the 
girl  firmly,  unconsciously  sounding  the  key-note  of  her 
character. 

It  was  rough,  tedious  riding  that  followed.  Many  a  time 
Faquita  was  tempted  to  go  back  and  leave  Zunega  alone  tore- 
store  Raquel  to  her  home,  but  each  time  feminine  curiosity 
got  the  better  of  her  fatigue  and  she  pushed  on  faithfully, 
revolving  in  her  mind  what  she  would  say  to  Alarcon  on  her 
return  to  camp. 

Sometimes  they  were  on  one  side  of  the  stream  and  now 
on  the  other,  as  it  admitted  of  being  forded.  Under  over- 
hanging masses  of  foliage,  through  aggravating  thickets  that 
crowded  close  to  the  verge  of  the  water  they  crept,  miles  deep 
in  day's  death.  At  one  point,  Zuiiega  asked  them  to  dis- 
mount. He  tethered  the  animals  while  Faquita  besieged  him 
with  questions.  To  these  he  vouchsafed  no  reply  save  a  non- 
committal smile.  Finally,  he  plunged  boldly  into  the  jungle- 
like vegetation  that  threatens  to  engulf  the  island.  He  called 
to  them  to  follow.  Reluctantly  they  obeyed,  finding  traces 
that  this  dense  growth  had  been  penetrated  before.  Moving 
a  great  boulder  with  a  forceful  push  of  his  shoulder,  Zunega 
revealed  to  their  eyes  a  cave  of  immense  dimensions. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  caves  of  the  mountains  that  has  proved 
a  place  of  safety  for  many  of  those  whom  Spain  believes  dead," 
he  informed  them.  "  Brave  hearts  have  hid  here.  Some  of 
them  have  died  here,  hearts  that  would  have  won  Cuba  her 
freedom  if  they  could,  seiiorita!" 

Raquel  peered  into  the  damp  gloom  of  the  retreat,  so  un- 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  S; 

known  to  Spain,  with  eyes  in  which  shone  the  worship  that 
belongs  to  heroes.  No  premonition  whispered  to  her  that  she 
was  destined  to  know  this  historic  spot  inch  by  inch  in  the  days 
to  come.  No  voice  foretold  the  part  this  Cave  of  Lost  Spirits 
was  to  play  in  her  future.  But,  as  she  laid  her  fingers  on  the 
cool,  mossy  rocks,  she  shivered. 

"  It  is  strange  that  liberty  should  be  bought  at  the  price  of 
life,"  she  murmured  musingly,  "  liberty  that  is  the  right  of 
man !  And  all  the  patriotic  blood  that  has  been  shed  for  Cuba 
seems  to  have  profited  her  nothing.  But  the  memory  of  brave 
deeds  burns  in  the  heart  of  the  Cuban  people  like  an  unquench- 
able fire,  a  fire  that  yet  will  burst  forth  with  such  fury  that 
Spain  herself  will  be  consumed." 

"  Ah,  perhaps,"  shrugged  Faquita.  "  Long  after  we  are 
dead,  let  us  hope.  I  remember  a  little  of  the  ten-year  war. 
It  was  sad  for  Cuba." 

"Care  you  nothing  that  Cuba  lies  helpless  in  Spain's  fin- 
gers?" cried  Raquel,  with  surprise. 

"Why  should  I?"  queried  Faquita,  laughing.  "I  cannot 
free  her." 

"  But  you  might  nerve  others  to,"  flashed  Raquel. 

Faquita  laughed  again.  The  subject  was  too  stupendous 
for  contemplation  in  this  stifling,  moist  heat  that  the  tangled 
mass  of  green  seemed  to  hold. 

Zunega  led  them  back  to  the  clearer  air  of  the  gorge. 

"  Soon  we  shall  strike  over  the  spur  of  the  mountain  and 
descend  to  the  savannahs,"  he  said  to  Raquel.  "  You  are  not 
far  distant  from  the  plantation." 

Raquel  gave  a  little  choked  cry  of  joy. 

From  that  time  on  she  counted  the  steps  the  horses  took. 
Each  brought  her  nearer  her  father.  Fresh  energy  came  to 
her  with  the  thought. 

They  left  the  river  and  crept  upward  again.  Zunega  still 
trudged  ahead,  apparently  tireless.  Once  he  stopped  and 
severed  the  great  rope-like  liantasse  that  tosses  itself  like  a 
ship's  cable  among  the  trees;  this  section  of  the  hollow  tube 
he  held  to  Raquel's  thirsty  lips,  urging  her  to  drain  it  of  the 
pint  or  two  of  pure,  cold  water  which,  absorbed  by  the  roots 
was  ascending  to  be  converted  into  leaf  and  fruit. 

"How  well  you  know  the  secrets  of  the  forest!"  she  ex- 
claimed gratefully. 


88  A    DAUGHTER   Of   CUBA. 

Zuiiega  gave  no  answer.  The  silence  of  the  woods  through 
which  they  passed  was  in  his  soul.  When  again  would  his  feet 
fall  thus  softly  into  the  ashes  of  the  dead  years?  The  question 
was  in  his  mind  continually.  It  grew  louder  and  louder  in  its 
voicing  as  they  neared  the  edge  of  the  forest.  It  was  with  a 
pang  of  regret  that  he  first  caught  the  sight  of  the  purpling 
hills  to  the  east,  rising  in  gentle  billows  up  from  the  stretches 
of  ochre-hued  cane  fields.  He  was  sorry  to  have  this  journey 
done,  this  unpremeditated  journey  which  was  launching  him 
on  a  chartless  sea  of  endeavor  to  merit  the  praise  of  the  girl 
whofee  horse  he  guided. 

He  had  tried  to  formulate  plans  as  he  had  cut  the  path 
through  with  his  machete.  If  there  were  an  uprising,  the  solu- 
tion would  be  easy;  he  would  join  and  fight  with  the  valiant 
blood  that  was  in  his  veins;  but,  for  a  wonder,  there  was  not 
even  the  breath  of  insurrection  in  the  air.  Nothing  remained 
but  to  hide  his  identity  from  Alarcon  as  well  as  he  could  by 
becoming  a  laborer  in  a  distant  part  of  the  island.  That 
decision  was  what  made  the  knot  in  his  throat  when  they 
passed  at  last  from  the  shadow  of  the  mantled  mountain  and 
came  out  upon  the  valley  lands.  They  had  yet  a  considerable 
distance  to  go ;  he  had  chosen  a  circuitous  route  since  leaving 
the  gorge,  to  prevent  the  slightest  possibility  of  encountering 
the  chief.  He  glanced  back  at  the  forest.  The  melancholy 
in  his  beautiful  eyes  deepened. 

"  Adios!     Adios  r  he  whispered. 

Was  it  only  his  fancy,  he  wondered,  which  made  it  seem 
that  the  spirits  of  the  woods  reached  out  after  him ;  that  all 
through  the  vast  vaulted  arches,  hung  with  the  delicate  fret- 
work of  laced  foliage,  crept  a  murmur  of  regret?  Were  his 
ears  keen  with  that  soul-sense  which  enables  one  to  hear  the 
utterances  of  the  sphinx-like  progeny  of  Nature? 

He  felt  that  invisible  hands  grasped  him.  He  thought  that 
he  heard  whispers  which,  with  the  subtleness  of  fragrance, 
cried: 

"  Goest  thou  out  to  avenge  the  wrongs  of  men?  Thy  heart 
will  ache  with  bitterness ;  thy  eyes  grow  weary.  Many  have 
gone  before  thee.  Many  will  come  after.  Who  shall  say  they 
pass  in  vain? 

"  Thou  art  built  of  the  sinew  of  the  flesh ;  through  thy  veins 
runs  the  red  fire  built  by  the  fingers  of  that  mysterious  Life 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  «9 

whom  none  hath  seen.  Thou  of  the  red  fire  <go  out  across  tlie 
earth,  seeking  ever  the  reason  of  thy  creation.  We  of  the 
green  fire  stand  immovable. 

"■  Silently,  we  watch  them  of  the  red  fire  rear  their  struc- 
tures. We  perceive  their  blindness  of  vision.  We  learn  that 
they  hear  no  voices  but  their  own.  We  listen  to  their  arro- 
gance of  speech,  tlieir  jest  of  life,  their  fear  of  death.  And 
we  push  our  roots  deeper;  we  reach  out  with  the  hush  of 
sovereignty;  we  spread  our  green  mantle  over  the  works  of 
man.  Our  green  fire  burns  through  the  centuries,  and  he  of 
the  red  fire  is  consumed  by  us;  his  body  becomes  tissue  of  our 
tissue.     Into  the  crucible  of  the  years  drop  his  ashes. 

"It  is  written!  He  of  the  red  fire  is  migratory.  He  Hits 
from  land  to  land,  from  sea  to  sea.  Like  the  butterfly,  he 
knows  his  hours  are  few.  He  craves  immortality ;  and  he 
builds  and  builds.  He  wars  for  supremacy ;  and  builds  again. 
He  knows  not  the  calm  of  the  rocks  and  the  forests.  The  fear 
of  Death  is  with  him  from  the  hour  of  birth.  It  dogs  his  steps. 
He  knows  not  the  visage  of  Death  nor  the  Light  it  wears! 
He  gropes  blindly  and  dreams  not  that  Death  and  Life  are  one, 

"Thou  of  the  red  fire.  Adios !  There  are  battles  for  thee 
to  fight.  There  is  work  to  be  done  for  thy  short-lived  race. 
We  would  stay  thee,  but  we  may  not.     Adios  !" 


CHAPTER    IX. 

After  the  abrupt  departure  of  Gonzalo  Alarcon,  the  three 
astonished  men  in  the  sala  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa  discussed  the 
matter  excitedly,  striving  vainly  to  decide  what  course  should 
be  pursued.  Beyond  petitioning  the  government  for  the  ser- 
vices of  the  guardia  civile,  there  really  was  nothing  to  do;  and 
they  knew  only  too  well  what  the  dilatory  rejjly  of  the  govern- 
ment would  be.  Even  if  the  guardia  civile  did  come,  tlie  sol- 
diers were  no  match  for  a  forest-ambushed  foe.  Both  Gilbert 
Palgrave  and  M.  Theuriet  knew  that  Raquel's  fate  was  sealed 
so  far  as  their  efforts  to  extricate  her  from  her  position  were 
concerned. 

The  father  had  aged  seemingly  ten  years,  twenty  years. 
All  of  the  buoyancy  of  manner  which  the  Cuban  climate  gives 
to  its  dwellers  had  been  swallowed  up  in  this  terrible  fear  which 


90  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

had  fallen  like  a  blight  upon  him.  The  atmosphere  of  the  en- 
tire plantation  was  depressed.  The  fires  still  remained  gray 
in  the  furnaces.     The  blacks  talked  in  hushed  tones. 

This  strange  stillness  was  not  so  apparent  to  Lithgow,  who 
did  not  know  the  ingenio  in  its  tumultuous  activity.  He  and 
M.  Theuriet  sat  in  the  sleep-inducing  chairs  of  the  estrada; 
the  master  of  the  house  walked  the  floor  with  the  wild  im- 
patience of  powerlessness.  M.  Theuriet  was  very  quiet.  He 
realized  that  it  had  been  tke  announcement  of  his  intention  to 
claim  Raquel  which  had  wrenched  from  them  their  opportunity 
of  securing  her.  He  was  filled  with  unavailing  regret.  He 
wondered  that  Palgrave  did  not  hurl  anathemas  at  him.  They 
were  in  the  father's  eyes,  but  they  were  not  spoken. 

On  Lithgow's  arrival  with  M.  Theuriet,  the  sugar  planter 
had  offered  to  the  Northerner  the  house,  the  plantation,  and  all 
of  his  worldly  goods  after  the  courteous  fashion  of  Cuba.  En- 
couraged by  such  hospitality,  Lithgow  now  ventured  to  look 
about  him.  He  had  some  curiosity  as  to  what  had  been  the 
surroundings  of  this  lost  sefiorita.  Everywhere  were  evi- 
dences of  refinement.  The  high  cool-looking  walls  were 
graced  here  and  there  with  reproductions  of  English  cathe- 
drals, and  there  also  was  a  picture  of  "  The  Madonna  of  the 
Chair."  He  moved  over  to  the  bookshelves.  They  held  a 
varied  and  rich  collection  for  a  Cuban  household. 

"  Bless  my  soul !"  he  exclaimed  to  himself,  as  he  glanced 
over  the  titles.  "Carlj'le;  a  Latin  Lexicon;  Shakespeare; 
'The  Iliad;'  Voltaire;  Hugo;  Schopenhauer's  'Wisdom  of 
Life ;'  Pascal's  'Thoughts' !" 

He  took  down  each  volume  he  had  enumerated  and  several 
others,  whirling  over  the  leaves  interestedly.  Everywhere 
he  observed  marks  that  indicated  that  the  books  had  received 
much  usage. 

"  Probably  he  is  an  Oxford  man,"  he  told  himself  explana- 
torily, as  he  inspected  the  bethumbed  "  Thoughts."  Here  and 
there  he  paused  to  read  underlined  passages,  and  this  one : 
"  Our  whole  dignity  consists  in  thought.  Our  elevation  must 
be  derived  from  this,  not  from  space  and  duration  which  we 
cannot  fill,"  arrested  his  notice  peremptoril)^ ;  for  at  its  mar- 
gin was  traced  in  a  feminine  hand  the  admonition : 

"  Take  this  for  thy  correction,  Raquel,  when  thy  soul  burns 
• — in  vain — to  achieve  great  deeds." 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 


9» 


Gilbert  Palgrave,  perceiving  his  interest  came  and  stood 
beside  him,  saying  sadly  : 

"These  were  the  poor  child's  treasures.  They  are  the 
only  society  she  has  had  except  mine.  Only  the  day  that  she 
was  seized  she  was  rebelling  against  the  dulhiess  of  her  life 
here.  She  has  great  longings  to  accomplish  something;  I  sup- 
pose that  it  is  the  longing  of  youth.  Perhaps  her  English 
blood  is  accountable  for  some  of  her  restlessness." 

"  Does  she  take  a  dose  of  Pascal  to  quiet  her  riotous  spirit?" 
queried  the  American,  exhibiting  what  he  had  been  reading. 
Palgrave  viewed  the  sentence  with  moist  eyes. 

"  Perhaps  so.  That  is  her  writing,"  he  admitted.  "  I  pre- 
sume that  I  have  done  ill  to  permit  her  to  grow  to  womanhood 
here  with  only  myself  for  a  companion.  It  is  natural  that  she 
should  long  for  society;  and  I  hoped  to  furnish  it  to  her  in  a 
year  or  two.  But  now — my  God! — the  thought  will  drive  me 
insane !" 

Later,  Lithgow  wandered  out  into  the  court.  It  was  sug- 
gestive of  Moorish  life.  The  slender,  graceful  columns  up- 
held a  wide  upper  gallery  which  jutted  out  over  the  colon- 
nade that  enclosed  the  patio  with  its  fountain  and  riot  of 
bloom.  He  espied  the  listless  folds  of  the  hammock  and  di- 
vined who  had  been  its  usual  occupant.  Through  the  shade 
of  flowering  shrubs  he  peered  upward,  past  the  bright  strips 
of  gay  awning,  to  the  brilliant  whiteness  of  the  zenith.  It 
was  past  the  hour  of  noon.  The  air  quivered  with  heat.  It 
seemed  to  him  that  all  the  world  had  swooned  beneath  the 
narcotic  atmosphere  that  filled  this  little  spot  with  such 
a  hush.  He  stood  still,  mesmerized  by  the  beauty  of  the 
place. 

"  It  is  ideal !"'  he  said,  with  a  deep  breath.  "  One  could  live 
and  die  here  and  never  drink  nor  dream  of  the  poison  that  the 
world  knows  and  with  which  it  intoxicates  itself." 

He  never  knew  how  long  he  had  stood  there,  but  suddenly 
he  was  startled  by  an  unearthly  commotion  from  without. 
Shrieks  and  deep  cries  from  the  black  population  of  the  plan- 
tation arose  in  a  chorus  that  brought  Gilbert  Palgrave  and  M. 
Theuriet  from  the  sala  to  the  entrance  of  the  court  in  a  rush 
of  dismay. 

"  Man  Dicu  !  What  ees  ze  mattair?"  cried  the  Frenchman 
in  alarm. 


92  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Perhaps  the  plantation  has  been  set  on  fire !"  said  Palgrave. 
with  white  lips. 

What  he  saw,  drove  the  blood  from  his  heart  up  into  his 
face,  with  a  sweep  of  red  that  ebbed  and  left  him  of  deathly 
pallor.     He  caught  hold  of  Lithgow's  shoulder. 

"  Am  I  mad?"  he  asked  in  a  hoarse  whisper,  pointing  with 
a  trembling  finger  to  a  figure  in  white  that  seemed  to  be  car- 
ried above  the  heads  of  the  excited,  gesticulating  blacks. 
"  Isn't  that  Raquel?     O  God!" 

Lithgow's  eyes  already  were  fastened  on  that  white  object. 
So  intent  was  his  questioning  gaze  that  he  never  noticed  that 
the  man  by  his  side  reeled,  overcome  by  this  sudden  joy  after 
the  hours  of  torture  and  despair. 

With  a  sob,  Gilbert  Palgrave  fell  forward  on  his  face  un- 
conscious. 

Incredulous  that  the  comer  possibly  could  be  the  seiiorita, 
M.  Theuriet  had  stood  petrified  with  astonishment.  Now,  he 
bent  over  the  prostrate  form  of  his  neighbor  with  fear  and 
trouble  in  his  face. 

High  above  the  glad  exclamations  of  the  blacks  rose  a  shrill 
cry  of  terror.  In  another  instant  Raquel  had  thrown  herself 
down  by  her  father,  beseeching  him  to  speak  to  her,  to  look  at 
her. 

"  Ah,  if  he  is  dead!"  she  wailed,  laying  her  face  beside  his 
in  the  frenzy  of  fear. 

"  He  is  not  dead,"  volunteered  Lithgow,  seeing  that  no  one 
else  offered  the  consolation.  "  He  has  lost  consciousness  for 
a  moment,  that  is  all.     The  sight  of  you — " 

"Ah,  ze  sight  ov  you  was  too  mooch,  seiiorita  iiiia,"  broke 
in  Theuriet,  his  excitement  getting  the  better  of  his  polite- 
ness.    "  He  was  almost  eensane  wiz  ze  loss  of  you." 

Raquel  gave  not  a  glance  to  either  of  them.     She  had  her 
father's  face  in  her  hands  and  was  caressing  it  hungrily.     Sud- 
denly, she  looked  up  with  remembrance  and  called: 
•     "Faquita!   Faquita!" 

From  out  the  encircling  group  of  awed  and  frightened 
blacks,  the  gypsy-like  countenance  of  Faquita  peered  forth. 

"  Que,  senorita  mia  ?"  she  asked  doubtfully. 

"  Help  me!"  pleaded  Raquel.     "  Tell  me  what  to  do." 

For  answer,  Faquita  dropped  down  on  her  knees,  took  his 
head  from  Raquel's  hands,  and  laid  it  back  on  the  tiles. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  93 

"Water!"  she  ordered  briefl}'. 

A  dozen  of  the  women  rushed  to  obej',  but  Lithgow  had 
been  ahead  of  them ;  from  the  fountain  he  brousht  his  hand- 
kerchief dripping  with  moisture.  This  Faquita  passed  gently 
over  the  features  of  the  planter  and  was  rewarded  by  seeing 
signs  of  returning  life.  Then  she  stood  up  and  ordered  the 
throng  of  gaping  servants  away  with  peremptory  gesture.  As 
though  they  had  been  accustomed  to  obey  her  all  their  lives, 
they  scurried  out  of  sight,  leaving  their  master  to  perceive 
only  the  sweet  visage  of  Raquel  when  he  opened  his  eyes  again. 

That  that  was  sufficient  to  revive  him  was  proven  in  a  short 
time.  With  the  haziness  of  returning  memory,  he  gazed  on 
her  tenderly;  then,  with  sudden  recollection,  lifted  himself 
and  caught  her  in  his  eager  embrace. 

There  were  no  words  at  first.     None  were  needed. 

If  Zuncga  had  wished  any  other  reward  than  that  which 
he  already  held  to  be  his,  he  would  have  found  it  in  that  scene 
which  he  observed  from  under  his  lowered  lids.  Ilis  heart 
was  beating  strongly  with  the  sweetness  of  this  home-coming. 
He  knew  that,  no  matter  where  he  went  or  what  fate  became 
his,  the  memory  of  this  hour  would  ever  nestle  in  his  mind. 
He  turned  and  looked  at  Faquita.  Was  she  too  moved?  He 
read  in  her  dark,  passionate  face  the  sign  of  keen  emotion, 
but  he  could  not  peer  deep  enough  to  see  that  her  thoughts 
were  back  in  the  home  that  mourned  her  as  one  dead,  dead  to 
the  pure  and  quiet  life  which  had  been  hers  as  a  child. 

Lithgow  watched  the  entire  group:  Raqucl's  warm  color- 
ing, Faquita's  half-Spanish  apparel,  Zunega's  unrivalled  mus- 
cular development.  All  of  a  sudden  he  saw  that  which  made 
him  take  a  quick  step  forward.  He  took  the  hand  of  Zunega 
in  his  own  with  undisguised  excitement. 

"  Perdone  me,  se/lor,"  he  begged  eagerly,  "but  tliis  ring! — 
Where  did  you  get  it?" 

Zunega  drew  his  hand  away  slowly,  with  all  tlie  haughti- 
ness of  a  prince  in  his  sombre  eyes. 

"  Forgu/,  senor?"  he  demanded. 

For  reply,  Lithgow  thrust  out  his  own  hand  and  displayed  on 
it  the  exact  counterpart  of  the  ornament  that  the  Cuban  wore. 

"  Caramba  !"  murmured  Zuiiega  wonderingly.  "Von,  se- 
nor, where  got  you  yours?     This  was  my  father's." 

It  had  all  come  so  cpickly,  with  such  simpleness,  that  Lith- 


94  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

gow  only  stared  at  Zuiiega  for  reply.  He  could  not  believe 
that  thus  had  dropped  into  his  hands  the  very  individual  for 
whom  English  and  American  lawyers  had  sought  so  fruitlessly 
for  years.     Finally  he  questioned  cautiously:  , 

"  Your  father  was  a  Cuban?" 

"No,  se/lor,  ingles." 

Lithgow  had  an  exuberant  inclination  to  indulge  in  some 
extravagant  demonstration  of  satisfaction,  but  he  restrained 
himself  sufficiently  to  say  significantly  : 

"  Then  I  have  some  strange  news  for  you,  if  you  can  bring 
me  proof  of  your  assertion.     Can  you?" 

The  attention  of  all  was  riveted  on  them  now.  Faquita 
came  nearer. 

"  Yo?io  se,"  answered  Zuiiega,  a  line  of  perplexitx'  showing 
between  his  black  brows.  "  I  have  but  this  ring  and  the  words 
of  Annizae." 

Lithgow  almost  gave  a  leap  in  the  air  at  the  sound  of  the 
name  that  he  had  heard  in  Bertram's  office  in  New  York. 

"  Annizae!"  he  shouted.     "  Where  is  she?" 

M.  Theuriet  and  Gilbert  Palgrave  regarded  him  as  if  they 
thought  he  had  lost  his  senses.  Raquel,  her  attention  held  by 
him  for  the  first  time,  turned  a  questioning  gaze  upon  her 
father. 

"  He  is  Monsieur's  American  guest,"  he  explained  to  her, 
and  both  gave  their  eyes  to  the  participants  in  the  strange 
drama  before  them.  If  Lithgow  was  new  to  Raquel,  Zuiiega 
and  Faquita  were  not  less  new  to  the  two  planters,  who,  in 
their  absorbed  contemplation  of  the  returned  girl,  had  given 
as  yet  no  thought  to  the  method  of  her  coming. 

"  Why,  seiior?"  queried  Zuiiega  again,  puzzled  at  the  vehe- 
mence of  this  Spanish-speaking  foreigner. 

"What  is  this  woman  called  'Annizae'  to  you?"  asked  Lith- 
gow, answering  with  another  question. 

"  My  mother,"  replied  Zuiiega. 

"  Are  you  certain?" 

Zuiiega  turned  toward  Faquita  with  a  gesture.  "  Ask  this 
sefiora,  seiior,"  he  advised. 

Faquita,  all  curiosity,  was  nothing  loath  to  be  ques- 
tioned. Raquel  urged  her  father  and  M.  Theuriet  nearer, 
explaining  the  part  that  the  two  had  played  in  her  escape 
from  the  camp  of  x'Vlarcon. 


A   DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  05 

Gilbert  Palgrave,  not  to  be  deterred  by  the  strange  queries 
of  the  American,  went  at  once  with  not  yet  steady  step  to 
Zfinegat  He  held  out  his  hand  with  the  grateful  grasp  of  an 
Englishman. 

"  My  daughter  tells  me  that  it  is  to  you  and  your  compan- 
ion that  I  owe  this  joy  which  has  come  to  me,"  he  said  simply. 
"  What  I  have  is  yours." 

Zuiiega  bowed  so  low  that  his  long,  wavy  hair  almost 
seemed  to  touch  the  tiles. 

"  I  am  repaid,  senor,"  he  replied  softly,  lifting  his  eye  for 
a  moment  to  those  of  Raquel.  "  There  is  nothing  I  would 
take  of  yours  but  the  pleasure  it  has  given  me  to  give  you 
joy." 

It  was  no  more  than  the  common,  courteous  Spanish  way  of 
disclaiming  gratitude,  but  his  eyes  gave  the  words  a  weight 
they  would  not  otherwise  have  had.  Palgrave  extended  his 
hand  also  to  Faquita.  As  she  placed  hers  within  it,  he  bent 
his  lips  to  her  fingers. 

"  What  is  there  I  can  do  to  repay  you,  seiiora?"  he  questioned 
anxiously,  supposing  her  to  be  the  wife  of  Zufiega. 

Faquita's  oriental-like  face  altered.  She  glanced  at 
Raquel  with  half-amused  glance,  as  if  questioning  if  she 
should  tell  that  she  already  had  her  reward  also.  Finally  she 
said: 

"  You  may  answer  a  question,  senor." 

"  With  pleasure,"  bowed  the  sugar  planter  wonderingly. 

"  Has  Gonzalo  Alarcon  been  here  to  demand  ransom  for  the 
seiiorita?" 

Gilbert  Palgrave  looked  around  at  M.  Theuriet  with  com- 
pressed lips,  then  turned  back  to  his  interrogator. 

"  Was  that  Alarcon  who  came  here?"  he  demanded  unbe- 
lievingly. 

"  None  other,"  returned  Faquita. 

The  soul  of  the  planter  stirred  with  the  bitterness  of  view- 
ing a  lost  opportunity.  To  know  that  the  most  feared  brigand 
of  Cuba  has  slipped  through  your  unretaining  fingers  is  enough 
to  arouse  rage  in  any  heart. 

"  If  I  only  could  have  known  !"  he  groaned.  "  He  went  from 
here  only  a  few  hours  ago." 

"  Went  he  back  for  the  seiiorita?"  asked  Faquita  anxiously. 
"  Was  he  to  secure  ransom?" 


96  A   DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  He  refused  ransom,"  returned  Palgrave,  not  deeming  it 
necessary  to  explain  why. 

B^aquita  brought  her  hands  together  with  triumphant  ges< 
ture. 

"  Ah,  what  did  I  tell  you,  seiiorita?"  she  cried.  "  It  is  well 
that  the  miles  of  forest  stretch  between  you  and  Gonzalo  Alar- 
con  now." 

Faint  with  the  realization  of  Avhat  she  had  escaped,  Raquel 
leaned  hard  on  the  arm  of  her  father.  * 

"  I  owe  it  all  to  you,"  she  said  gratefully,  "  to  you  and  Zuiie- 
ga.  He  can  return  no  more  to  the  forest.  He  must  become 
one  of  us,  and  you,  Faquita,  if  you  only  will." 

Faquita  shook  her  head  smilingly.  Her  fancy  was  pictur- 
ing the  rage  of  Alarcon.  She  would  not  miss  her  triumph  over 
him  for  a  dozen  plantations  like  this  quiet  one  of  La  Sacra 
Sonrisa. 

"  The  seiiorita  is  kind,"  said  Zunega  with  a  glad  light  in 
his  face.  "  But  the  revenge  of  Alarcon  will  be  far-reaching. 
I  must  go  where  my  face  is  not  known ;  perhaps  among  the 
tobacco  fields  in  the  most  distant  part  of  the  island.  Perhaps, 
some  day,  I  can  win  my  way  over  to  the  free  country  north. 
Who  knows?" 

Lithgow,  whose  queries  as  to  Zuiiega's  past  were  trem- 
bling unuttered  on  his  lips,  now  sought  to  make  himself  heard. 

"  I  think  that  there  is  another  country  that  waits  for  you, 
sefior,"  he  said  distinctly,  "  the  land  of  your  father." 

Each  countenance  was  turned  toward  the  speaker.  His 
tone  commanded  attention  with  which  even  the  expressions 
of  gratitude  could  no  longer  interfere.  He  directed  his  ques- 
tions first  to  Faquita. 

"  Will  you  tell  me  who  you  are,  seiiora?"  he  begged. 

"  The  wife  of  Gonzalo  Alarcon,"  was  her  answer,  as  she 
glanced  amusedly  toward  the  surprised  planters,  exchanging 
mystified  looks. 

"  And  this  Annizae,  who  is  she?" 

"  Who  knows?"  shrugged  Faquita.  "  She  speaks  no  word 
ever  save  that  which  is  required." 

"  She  calls  herself  the  mother  of  this  man  beside  you?" 

"  It  is  true,  setior." 

"  But  why  does  he  not  call  her  by  the  term  of  mother 
then?" 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  97 

Faquita  shrugged  her  shoulders  again  and  glanced  at 
Zunega. 

"Tell  him,  Zuiiega,"'  she  urged.  "Thou  shouldst  know 
more  than  I." 

"  I  know  nothing,"  replied  Zunega  reluctantly.  "  Ahvaj^s 
have  I  called  her  "Annizae.*  I  never  have  thought  about  it. 
Every  one  calls  her  so,  seiior." 

Lithgow  was  growing  more  and  more  certain  that  he  had 
found  his  man. 

"  How  came  you  with  the  ring?"  he  questioned.  "  Do  not 
fear  to  answer.  Great  good  will  come  to  you  if  you  are  the 
man  I  think  you  are.  If  you  prove  not  to  be,  you  may  go  your 
way." 

Zuiiega  looked  him  in  the  eyes  for  fully  a  minute.  He  ap- 
peared satisfied  with  what  his  searching  glance  had  revealed, 
for  he  responded  at  length  : 

"  I  secured  it  from  her  when  I  had  grown  to  manhood.  She 
said  it  had  belonged  to  my  father." 

"  Has  she  told  you  nothing  of  him?" 

"  Nothing,  senor." 

"  Then  I  will  tell  you,"  announced  Lithgow.  "  Unless  I 
mistake,  this  woman  is  not  your  mother.  .She  exchanged  her 
own  child  for  you  when  your  father  and  mother  sailed  for  Eng- 
land years  ago.  All  traces  of  her  and  the  child  she  had  stolen 
were  lost.  Tireless  has  been  the  search.  As  far  as  I  can  see, 
the  possession  of  this  ring  proves  conclusively  that  you  are  the 
personage  for  whom  others  beside  myself  are  seeking.  liut 
first  I  must  see  this  woman.  You  and  she  must  accompany 
me  to  the  States,  possibly  to  England.  Your  father  and 
mother  are  dead.  All  that  they  died  possessed  of  becomes 
yours  by  right,  if  you  can  prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned that  you  are  the  child  who  was  stolen.  I  am  willing  to 
help  you  to  do  this.  We  must  secure  the  confession  of  the 
woman.     How  shall  it  be  done?" 

Aghast,  scarcely  able  to  grasp  the  rapid  words  which  meant 
so  much  to  him,  Zuiiega  was  silent. 

He  was  not  the  only  one  silent  through  astonishment. 

Raquel  was  the  first  to  recover. 

"  Gracias  aDios!"  she  exclaimed.  "There  are  invisible 
fingers  that  guide!  You,  Zuiiega,  gave  up  your  all  in  order 
to  restore  me  to  this  safety  that  I  craved.  You  asked  no 
7 


98  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

recompense,  but — has  not  one  come?  See  what  it  promises: 
neither  labor  in  tobacco  fields  nor  danger  from  the  vengeance 
of  the  chief !     Life  in  a  free  land !     Ah,  it  is  a  grand  fortune !" 

Zuriega  did  not  take  his  eyes  from  her  while  she  spoke. 
There  was  a  peculiar  sinking  of  his  heart  with  the  words: 
"  Life  in  a  free  land!"  That  meant  a  country  far  away  from 
Cuba;  and  Zuiiega  knew  then,  with  an  overwhelming  sweep  of 
realization,  that  he  would  count  nothing  good  which  took  him 
from  the  skies  that  looked  down  on  this  maiden  who  had  so 
unexpectedly  crossed  his  path  and  changed  its  direction. 

"  It  is  not  true  what  the  seilor  thinks,"  he  said  slowly.  "  I 
am  the  son  of  Annizae.     All  believe  it." 

"  Who  knows?"  queried  Lithgow,  employing  the  national 
question.  "  We  must  ascertain  if  what  you  think  is  true.  It 
means  more  to  you  than  you  can  imagine.  It  means  that,  if 
Annizae  is  not  your  mother,  you  can  live  where  you  will.  You 
will  be  possessed  of  fortune,  honor,  place  in  the  world  of 
prominent  men.  Annizae  has  kept  you  out  of  your  rights  for 
years,  if  I  mistake  not.  Are  you  willing  to  be  defrauded 
longer?  You  will  be  not  an  unknown  forest  dweller,  subsist- 
ing on  the  spoils  of  a  doubtful  occupation ;  you  will  be  owner 
of  wide  lands,  master  of  great  houses.  This  woman  Annizae 
must  make  restitution  to  you.  She  is  the  only  one  who  can 
place  you  in  the  position  that  was  your  father's.  Will  she  do 
this  withottt  being  compelled  to  do  it?" 

Faquita  smiled  broadly. 

"  Compel  Annizae.-*"  she  murmured.  "  The  senor  knows  her 
not." 

Zuiiega's  brows  were  drawn.  He  was  confused.  He  was 
beginning  to  understand  dimly  what  this  might  mean. 
Through  the  chaos  of  bewildered  thoughts  which  thronged 
his  mind,  one  suggestion  shot,  leaving  behind  it  a  track  of 
light  that  dazzled  him.  "Fortune,  honor."  Those  magic 
words.  Would  they  not  place  him  on  a  par  with  this  girl 
before  him  whose  eyes  rested  upon  him  with  such  unfathom- 
able potency  in  their  depths?  With  the  fortune  might  he  not 
be  able  to  accomplish  something  that  would  win  her  praise, 
perhaps  her  love?  With  a  fortune  to  back  him,  might  he  not 
accomplish  for  Cuba  that  which  was  so  near  the  heart  of  the 
senorita?  Knowing  the  secrets  of  the  island  so  well,  could  he 
not  plan  and  lead  men  against  the  Spanish  rule  in  a  well-sus- 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  99 

tained  revolt  that  would  wear  the  soldiers  out?  There  was 
nothing  definite  in  the  whirl  of  thoughts  that  made  his  head 
fairly  spin  as  his  great  midnight  eyes  travelled  from  face  to 
face  of  the  group  before  him. 

"  I  cannot  believe,  seiior !"  he  said  finally  to  Lithgow.  "  You 
are  kind !  I  am  indebted  to  you,  but  I  cannot  believe.  Why 
should  I  be  what  )n:)U  say?  I  am  only  Zunega.  Gonzalo  Alar- 
con  has  taught  me  what  I  know." 

"  Will  you  believe  if  this  woman  Annizae  confesses  the 
wrong  she  has  done  you?"  asked  the  American.  "  Will  you 
go  to  England  with  me  in  that  case?" 

Zuiiega  bowed  low.  His  sombrero  with  its  decorations 
swept  the  tiles  as  he  moved  his  hand  gracefully. 

"  Ciertainente,  sefior"  he  agreed. 

"  How  are  we  to  get  this  woman?"  demanded  Lithgow  anx- 
ioiisly. 

Zunega  shook  his  head.  He  had  no  solution  of  the  problem 
to  offer.  He  could  not  return  to  the  camp.  Annizae  would 
not  come  to  the  plantation.  Was  that  not  an  end  of  the  entire 
matter? 

Faquita's  ingenuity  was  at  work.  Her  eyes  shone  with  ex- 
citement. The  tale  that  the  American  had  told  had  aroused 
all  of  her  interest.  Annizae's  secret,  for  it  was  known  that 
Annizae  had  a  secret,  had  defied  them  all.  Many  had  been  the 
bantering  questions  which  had  been  thrust  at  the  uncommuni- 
cative creature,  and  her  taciturnity  had  won  for  her  finally  the 
sobriquet,  "Silent  Annizae."  To  pierce  this  veil  which  had 
so  long  shut  the  woman  in  would  be  an  act  that  the  whole  camp 
would  relish.  It  would  be  a  fair  revenge  for  various  indignities 
which  the  elder  woman  had  occasionally  heaped  upon  the  head 
of  Faquita  for  usurping  the  place  which  had  been  her  own.  It 
was  true  that  they  had  dwelt  together  with  apparent  amity, 
but  alwaj's  there  had  been  a  smouldering  hatred,  and  Faquita 
would  not  be  "orry  to  gain  the  upper  hand  over  the  black  crea- 
ture whose  will  still  was  law  in  the  camp  cuisine. 

"  Perdouame,  scnor"  she  ventured  to  address  Lithgow, 
"  there  is  but  one  way.  No  word  you  could  send  would  bring 
her  here.  I  think  of  one  chance;  it  might  bring  her  as  far  as 
the  shrine  of  Nuestra  Madre  de  Dolores  that  stands  on  the 
highway  that  runs  through  the  edge  of  the  woods  at  the  base 
of  the  mountains  to  tlic  south.     She  knew  nut  of  Zuiicga's  de- 


lOO  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

parture.  To  see  him,  to  beg  him  to  return,  she  might  come 
that  far;  but  she  must  come  without  Alarcon's  knowledge. 
If  he  mistrusted,  he  would  follow  her.  He  will  owe  death  to 
Zuiiega  for  robbing  him  of  the  seiiorita.  Not  even  the  length 
of  the  island,  not  even  the  obscurity  of  distant  tobacco  fields 
will  shut  Zuiiega  from  the  revenge  of  Alarcon.  It  is  well  that 
the  seiior  takes  him  from  Cuba.  Zuiiega' s  life  is  worth  noth- 
ing here  now." 

Zuiiega  made  her  an  imperative  gesture  of  silence.  Faquita 
saw  it,  but  she  heeded  it  not.  She  meant  that  these  seiiors 
should  know  the  full  value  of  this  deed  that  Zuiiega  had  done. 
If  great  good  came  to  him  by  reason  of  it,  well  and  good. 
Zuiiega  had  known  of  no  reward  when  he  had  agreed  to  help 
her  and  the  seiiorita ;  he  had  known  only  the  fate  that  awaited 
him  somewhere  in  the  future  in  the  day  when  Alarcon's  sure, 
mean  vengeance  should  overtake  him. 

"  God  in  heaven !"  cried  Gilbert  Palgrave,  understanding 
for  the  first  time  the  rich  measure  of  Zunega's  right  to  his 
limitless  gratitude.  "  You  are  of  the  metal  that  heroes  are 
made  of !  Practicall3^  you  have  given  your  life  to  bring  my 
child  to  me,  and  I  have  nothing  to  offer  5'ou,  nothing  but  the 
unbounded  admiration  of  a  father  and  a  man  who  is  an  Eng- 
lishman. Aside  from  the  service  you  have  rendered  me  and 
mine,  I  am  proud  to  know  you,  sir.  Consider  me  your  debtor 
and  your  servant." 

Zuiiega' s  face  flushed.  Save  from  the  lips  of  the  seiiorita 
herself,  never  could  words  be  uttered  that  would  give  him 
such  a  thrill  as  these  which  came  from  the  master  of  La  Sacra 
Sonrisa,  the  man  whose  consent  must  be  gained  before  ever  he 
might  look  upon  the  seiiorita  with  covetous  eyes  of  love. 

"  Gracias,  scFior"  he  murmured  faintly,  bowing  low  again. 

M.  Theuriet  had  been  standing  silent.  Though  alert  to 
everything  which  was  transpiring,  he  was  engrossed  with  the 
fact  that  he  had,  in  the  guise  of  her  father's  neighbor  and 
friend,  taken  Raquel's  fingers  within  his  own  and  was  now 
patting  them  tenderly  and  reassuringly,  as  if  to  remind  her 
that  home  walls  were  again  around  her.  She  had  glanced  at 
him  once  wonderingly,  but  his  expression  of  delight  at  her  un- 
expected return  induced  her  to  permit  her  hand  to  rest  in  his 
clasp  without  exhibiting  any  of  the  repugnance  which  she  felt 
without  knowing  why.     Now,  the  Frenchman  within  him  could 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  tor 

not  but  gi"e  praise  to  the  spirit  of  the  handsome  youth  t.i 
whom  they  were  so  much  indebted.  He  even  felt  an  inclina- 
tion to  bestow  upon  the  fellow  a  tiny  portion  of  what  would 
have  slipped  from  his  grasp  altogether  if  Alarcon  had  taken  the 
ransom.  By  means  of  this  young  bandit — who  might  turn  out 
to  be  quite  an  important  personage — they  had  secured  Raquel 
and  it  had  cost  them  nothing.  He  could  alTord  to  be  generous ; 
besides,  it  would  make  him  appear  well  in  the  eyes  of  Raquel 
and  Gilbert  Palgrave.     He  spoke  in  Spanish  to  Zuiiega. 

"  I  echo  the  words  of  Don  Gilberto ;  and,  in  his  name.  I  will 
ask  you  to  accept  two  hundred  pesos  for  a  slight  reminder  of 
what  we  owe  you." 

"  No  i's  posiblc,  scnor,"  refused  Zuiicga  gravely.  "  I  can  ac- 
cept nothing  for  what  has  been  done.  On  the  seiiora  you  may 
bestow  it;  all  is  due  to  her."  He  bent  his  head  toward  Fa- 
quita. 

"  Then  she  shall  have  it,"  declared  Theuriet.  "  I  will  send 
for  the  amount  at  once." 

"  Nada,  fiada,  seiior."  Faquita  shook  her  head  with  a  little 
coquettish  droop  of  her  lids  that  M.  Theuriet  would  have  found 
fascinating  had  not  Raquel  been  near. 

"  Pardon,  I  shall  insist,"  swore  he,  feeling  that  the  fingers 
of  Raquel  pressed  his  approvingly.  "I  will  go  for  it  now; 
you  shall  take  it  back  to — your  husband,  if  you  care  not  for  it 
yourself.  He  may  wish  now  that  he  had  waited  for  the  ran- 
som.    God  be  praised  that  he  got  it  not!" 

Faquita's  shoulders  moved  with  the  shrug  which  was 
habitual. 

"As  you  will,  senor,"  she  smiled,  "but,  if  you  will  listen, 
you  will  be  careful  how  you  travel  without  many  outriders. 
It  was  you  whom  Alarcon  intended  should  be  taken,  not  the 
senorita.     He  anticipated  a  large  ransom  from  you." 

RI.  Theuriet  turned  toward  Raquel  as  quick  as  a  flash. 

"Ah,  Mil  chore,  you  hav'  suffaired  for  me!"  he  cried  with 
grief.  "  Eet  ees  I  who  should  hav'  been  enduring  zat  which 
has  fallen  to  you.  Ze  devotion  ov  a  life  could  not  re- 
compense, yet  I  will  attempt  to  repay  you — eef  you  will 
pairmit." 

Raquel  regarded  him  puzzlcdly,  l)ut  replied  with  a  smile 
that  she  meant  should  be  grateful. 

"  What  has  been,  has  been  best — no.^'  she  inciuircd.     "  Yuii 


102  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

have  paid  no  ransom  to  secure  your  own  liberty,  as  you  would 
have  had  to  do.  These  noble  people  have  released  me  from 
what  would  have  been  a  life  of  torture ;  in  so  doing,  one  of 
them  has  made  a  strange  discovery.  What  God  orders  is 
well." 

"  Zink  you  zat  He  instigated  your  unhappy  abduction, 
seiiorita?"  smiled  the  Frenchman. 

"  Ah,  who  knows?"  she  replied  seriously.  "  Is  not  He  able 
to  turn  all  things  into  a  way  that  will  bless  us?" 

Over  four  of  the  listening  faces  passed  a  wave  of  amused 
skepticism  as  to  the  probability  of  there  having  been  any  di- 
vine influence  in  this  matter,  but  in  Zuiiega's  richly  colored 
countenance  shone  reverence  and  the  knowledge  that  her  mis- 
fortune had  been  the  means  of  blessing  him,  even  though  no 
fortune  became  his,  and  only  the  fear  of  Alarcon  was  his  por- 
tion in  life.  Raquel,  with  her  words,  thought  of  the  oppor- 
tunity which  had  become  the  bandit's  to  carry  out  the  hope  of 
Cuba.  M.  Theuriet  thought  of  the  chance  which  yet  remained 
of  making  Raquel  his  own. 

"  Who  is  to  induce  Annizae  to  come  to  this  shrine?"  asked 
Lithgow  of  Faquita. 

"  I  will  try,  seiior,"  volunteered  she  readil3\ 

"  But  no  word  must  be  spoken  to  give  her  an  idea  that  he 
knows  of  the  wrong  she  has  done  him,"  warned  the  American. 
"  If  she  has  kept  silence  this  long,  she  means  to  keep  it  for- 
ever." 

"  How  will  you  break  that  silence,  seiior?"  questioned  Fa- 
quita curiously. 

"  That  remains  to  be  decided  when  I  see  her,"  he  answered. 
"  Do  you  agree  to  urge  her  to  meet  this  man  she  calls  her  son 
at  the  spot  designated?" 

"6"/,  seiior." 

"  When?" 

Faquita  counted  her  fingers  thoughtfully. 

"  Not  before  a  week  from  last  night,  senor,"  she  returned. 
"  By  that  time  Alarcon  may  be  away  for  a  time.  It  is  only  a 
chance ;  no  one  could  promise  for  Annizae ;  she  may  come ;  she 
may  not.     I  will  do  my  best." 

"  Bueno!"  decided  Lithgow,  with  a  breath  of  relief.  "  We 
will  be  there.     At  what  hour?" 

"  Ten,"  she  said.     "  There  will  then  be  time  for  us  to  reach 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  103 

the  camp  before  sleep  is  away  from  their  eyelids.     They  sleep 
late  when  the  chief  is  far." 

"Ten,"  agreed  Lithgow,  "and,  if  Annizae  is  wise,  she  will 
bring  her  possessions  with  her.  She  will  return  no  more  to 
the  camp  of  Gonzalo  Alarcon." 

"Then  she  will  come  no  step,  seiior." 

"  She  must  not  know  it,"  returned  Lithgow.  "I  rely  on 
you,  Seiiora  Alarcon." 

Faquita  laughed  at  the  title.  Never  had  it  been  bestowed 
upon  her  before ;  it  was  pleasant  to  her  ears.  Exultation  was 
in  her  heart.  Her  revenge  for  the  slight  which  Alarcon  had 
been  ready  to  put  upon  her  was  becoming  richer.  Not  only 
had  she  deprived  him  of  the  seiiorita,  but  she  could  also  re- 
move Annizae,  who  wielded  a  subtle  but  unmistakable  power 
over  the  chief,  a  power  that  all  recognized  but  of  which  none 
knew  the  secret. 

"  I  will  not  disappoint  you,  seiior,"  she  promised  mean- 
ingly. 

"  Annizae  will  not  find  me  at  the  shrine,"  reminded  Zuiiega. 
"  I  mvist  be  far  from  here  by  this  hour  on  the  nianana.  To  re- 
main here  would  be  death.  I  must  make  my  way  to  some  hid- 
den place.     It  must  be  so." 

"  Us  verdad,"  admitted  Faquita,  troubledly.  "  What  is  it  to 
be,  senor?" 

Lithgow  thought  a  moment. 

"  How  do  you  propose  to  go?"  he  asked. 

Zunega  hesitated,  then  looked  straight  at  Gilbert  Palgrave. 

"  If  I  might  have  a  horse,"  he  ventured.  "  I  would  not  rob 
the  chief.     He  needs  all  that  he  has." 

"  All  I  have  you  may  command, "answered  the  sugar  planter. 
"  When  will  you  wish  it?" 

"  At  once,  senor." 

Zufiega  noticed  that  Raquel's  face  changed.  She  stepped 
forward  impulsively. 

"  Can  you  not  wait?"  she  pleaded.     "  You  can  hide  here." 

He  shook  his  head.     A  wonderful  softness  was  in  his  eyes. 

"  Some  day,  seiiorita,  I  will  return,"  he  replied  in  a  low 
voice.     "  I  will  be  all  that  you  would  desire." 

"  God  walk  with  you,"  she  said  enthusiastically.  "  I  shall 
watch  for  your  coming." 

And  she  did  not  know  the  full  truth  of  her  words. 


I04  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  Where  am  I  to  meet  you?"  demanded  Lithgow,  seeing  this 
much  desired  individual  taking  his  fortune  into  his  own  hands. 
"  We  must  have  everything  understood." 

"  Two  weeks  from  to-day  at  noon  I  will  be  in  the  Campo 
Santo  at  Habana,"  replied  Zuiiega.  "  If  you  come  there,  you 
will  see  me.     You  are  an  Americano?" 

"  My  name  is  Lithgow  Hamilton,"  explained  the  North- 
erner, feeling  that  this  was  doing  important  business  in  as  ex- 
peditious a  manner  as  even  an  American  could  wish.  "  I  will 
be  in  Havana  at  that  time  with  Annizae." 

Faquita  lifted  her  brows  and  glanced  at  Zunega  amusedly. 

"  The  seiior  has  not  yet  met  Annizae,"  she  commented. 

In  less  than  an  hour  both  Faquita  and  Zuiiega  were  on  their 
respective  ways,  provided  with  all  that  they  could  be  prevailed 
upon  to  accept.  Faquita  led  the  animal  which  Raquel  had  rid- 
den. She  was  in  high  spirits  and  had  no  visible  fears  as  to 
her  ability  to  find  her  way  back  to  the  camp. 

"  Adios,  adios  /"  she  cried  over  her  shoulder  to  Zuiiega. 

He  kept  his  sombrero  on  the  pommel  of  his  saddle  until 
she  was  out  of  sight.  He  had  an  affection  for  Faquita  that 
even  Annizae's  fault-finding  had  been  unable  to  destroy.  Now, 
he  was  conscious  of  a  deep  sense  of  respect  for  her.  To  her 
was  due  the  happiness  which  now  illumined  the  senorita's 
white  face.  He,  left  to  himself,  never  would  have  done  this 
deed  that  they  called  "noble."  He  felt  that  he  had  deserved 
none  of  the  praise  they  had  bestowed  upon  him.  He  was  full 
of  a  sense  of  shame  in  accepting  their  thanks.  But,  as  he  sat 
there,  his  fine  physique  outlined  against  the  bright  light  of  the 
afternoon  slipping  westward,  he  made  a  vow  that  he  would  re- 
turn in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  speech  they  had  given  him 
this  day.  If  the  words  of  the  Americano  were  true,  he  could 
return  soon,  her  equal.  But,  even  if  they  were  not  true,  he 
would  return,  though  it  might  be  years  hence,  and,  when  he 
came,  he  meant  it  should  be  as  her  equal. 

"Adios,  senorita  viia"  he  said  to  Raquel.  Zunega  never 
forgets.  Adios,  sefwres !  To  outwit  Alarcon,  I  must  ride  well 
and  far.     Adios  !" 

He  replaced  his  sombrero.  He  rode  through  the  orange 
grove  and  out  upon  the  highway.     He  did  not  look  back. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  1 05 


CHAPTER   X. 

The  greater  portion  of  the  week  which  must  elapse  before 
the  hour  to  meet  Annizae  was  spent  by  both  M.  Theuriet  and 
Lithgow  at  the  sugar  pkmtation. 

The  Frenchman  did  not  appear  wholly  satisfied  unless  he 
was  looking  at  Raquel.  That  she  was  surprised  by  the  un- 
usual interest  he  manifested  in  her  was  evident,  but  it  also 
was  clear  that  she  attributed  it  to  the  neighbor's  natural  de- 
sire to  rejoice  with  her  father  and  the  entire  mass  of  blacks, 
who  had  not  yet  ceased  nightly  celebrations. 

Again  and  again,  to  different  groups  of  listeners,  Raquel 
patiently  related  her  adventures,  until  finally  they  felt  almost 
as  familiar  with  them  as  she  did  herself.  That  these  accounts 
were  related  again  with  blood-curdling  embellishments  in  the 
safety  of  the  negro  quarters,  none  of  them  heard. 

This  frequent  presence  of  the  American  changed  the  tenor 
of  the  days  for  Raquel.  Instead  of  slipping  back  into  the  even 
melody  of  uneventful  hours,  she  experienced  the  delight  of 
having  a  companion  who  not  only  liked  her  books  but  under- 
stood them  better  than  she  did.  So  great  was  this  pleasure 
that  she  did  not  even  feel  bored  by  the  proximity  of  M.  Theuriet 
and  actually  went  to  the  extent  of  showing  the  Frenchman 
trifling  attentions.  Lithgow,  cognizant  of  the  plans  in  the 
mind  of  his  host,  for  M.  Theuriet  made  no  effort  to  conceal  his 
hopes  from  the  guest  who  had  become  aware  of  them  during 
the  audience  with  Alarcon,  wondered  much  as  to  what  would 
be  the  girl's  verdict  could  she  know  on  what  terms  her  freedom 
was  to  have  been  purchased. 

Seeing  her  love  for  her  father,  witnessing  how  she  caressed 
each  vine  and  flower  in  the  court,  he  could  not  doubt  that  she 
would  have  accepted  anything  that  offered  her  the  safety  of 
home  walls. 

The  curiosity  he  had  felt  concerning  her  deepened  as  he 
knew  her.  He  discovered  that  she  had  thoughts  as  radical  as 
Beatrice's,  though  in  a  different  way.  He  called  her  a  child,  as 
he  watched  her  lithe  figure  dancing  gayly  through  the  corridors 
on  her  way  to  and  from  the  cocina,  where  she  was  welcomed 
with  the  joyousness  of  the  exuberant  southern  natures.     He 


Io6  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

called  her  a  woman  of  j^ears,  as  she  swung  idly  in  the  hammoclj 
and  argued  with  him  over  the  volumes  that  her  library  boasted. 
She  was  not  the  usual  quiet  convent-bred  maiden  which  he  had 
fancied  common  to  Cuba.  She  sometimes  made  him  think  of 
a  volcano,  smouldering,  emitting  occasional  flame,  suggestive 
of  the  fires  within.  She  fascinated  him  with  her  quick  changes, 
her  little  skips  from  one  subject  to  another  widely  foreign. 
He  often  had  the  uncomfortable  feeling  that  she  had  not  been 
listening  to  what  he  had  been  saying,  her  mind  seeming  to 
have  flown  far  after  she  had  uttered  her  own  words ;  but  he 
invariably  learned  that  she  had  missed  nothing  and  only  was 
laying  up  his  thoughts  against  that  day  when  the  plantations 
would  know  him  no  more. 

Those  gold  and  sapphire  days  were  magic  ones.  He  knew 
it  at  the  time.  He  knew  it  better  long  afterward.  Insensibly, 
the  soft,  fragrant  hours  droned  themselves  away  while  he 
smoked  and  chatted  with  the  two  planters  or  exchanged  ideas 
with  Raquel  in  the  cool  court  amid  the  subtle  witchery  of 
tropical  bloom. 

The  estate  was  a  bustling  scene  of  activity  again.  With 
the  American  fondness  for  acquiring  information,  he  studied 
the  process  of  sugar-making,  rising  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning  and  going  over  the  estate  with  Gilbert  Palgrave  while 
yet  it  was  the  violet  hue  of  waning  night  through  which  the 
phosphorescent  cocullo  darted  about,  its  firefly  lantern  not  yet 
extinguished. 

During  the  madrugada,  those  hushed  hours  between  mid- 
night and  dawn,  these  little  cocullos  made  the  perfumed  West 
Indian  darkness  seem  as  if  peopled  with  falling  stars,  thousands 
of  lost  Pleiads,  more  brilliant  than  those  which  gemmed  the 
purple  vault  overhead. 

Side  by  side  with  the  sugar  planter,  Lithgow  made  the  tour 
of  the  plantation,  up  and  down  the  wide  paths  that  intersected 
the  fields  and  formed  roads  through  which  the  carts  could  travel 
to  gather  the  cane.  Returning  for  the  light  breakfast,  they 
afterward  made  their  way  to  the  vast,  low  buildings  from  the 
high  chimney  of  which  poured  the  black  smoke  that  made  such 
a  blot  on  the  fair  landscape  now  wakening  to  life. 

The  red-tiled  roof  of  the  mill  was  full  to  the  top  of  the  cut 
and  bundled  cane,  and  the  sugar  master  nearly  beside  himself 
with  the  fear  that  the  mayoral  had  given  him  more  juice  than 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  107 

he  could  work  up  in  the  time  allotted  to  him.  Wild  appear- 
ing, half-naked  negroes  tramped  up  and  down  the  platform  of 
the  mill,  thrusting  armfuls  of  the  canes  between  the  ponderous 
rollers  of  the  crushing-machine,  from  which  streamed  contin- 
ually a  flow  of  milky  cane-juice  that  took  its  way  swiftly 
through  canals  of  split  palm  trees  to  the  vats  of  the  purging- 
house.  There  was  the  scene  resembling  Hades.  Huge  fur- 
naces glowed  with  the  fiercely  burning  fuel  called  bagazzo,  the 
dried  cane-stalks.  From  boiler  to  boiler  the  juice  passed, 
changing  ever:  simmering;  foaming;  sluggishly  inactive;  a 
brown  mass;  a  tossing  sea  of  liquid  gold.  Long  paddles  of 
aloes  wood  beat  it  into  a  creamier  tint  and  ladled  it  into  a 
trench  of  immense  depth,  where  it  was  stirred  and  flung  aloft 
in  marvellously  tinted  showers  that  crystallized  slowly  in  the 
falling. 

Lithgow  did  not  marvel  at  the  Englishman's  financial  con- 
dition when  he  learned  that  the  previous  year  the  running  ex- 
penses of  the  estate  had  been  one  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
while  there  had  been  realized  from  the  output  of  sugar  less 
than  seventy-five  thousand  dollars;  and  that  the  year  before 
matters  had  been  even  worse. 

"  You  will  be  glad  if  Cuba  ever  breaks  away  from  Spain, 
won't  you?"  he  remarked  while  the  mayoral  stood  near. 

Gilbert  Palgrave  laid  his  hand  warningly  on  the  Amer- 
ican's arm. 

"  No  such  words  are  uttered  here,"  he  replied,  and  the  ac- 
companying glance  silenced  the  exclamation  that  was  on  Lith- 
gow':s  lips.  As  soon  as  they  were  alone,  however,  Palgrave 
brought  up  the  subject  again.  "  When  you  have  lived  long  in 
any  land  under  Spanish  rule,  you  will  make  sure  to  whose  ears 
you  are  speaking  before  you  speak,"  he  said.  "  I  am  not  cer- 
tain of  that  fellow.  He  may  be  wholly  Spanish  in  sympathies, 
lie  came  from  Havana.  It  is  well  to  be  cautious.  Spain  is 
not  above  employing  spies  to  ascertain  if  she  is  securing  her 
share  of  the  output  from  the  plantations." 

"  Good  Lord!"  ejaculated  the  American.     "  What  a  land!" 

"  What  a  government,  you  mean,"  corrected  Palgrave,  with 
a  smile. 

Lithgow  accepted  the  amendment. 

"  How  can  you  stand  such  an  order  of  things?"  he  questioned 

"  I'm  afraid  I  can't  much  longer,"  sighed  the  sugpi"  planter, 


lo8  A    DAUGHTER   Of  CUBA. 

"  but  what  is  a  man  to  do?  My  all  is  invested  here.  I  see  it 
shrinking  daily.  Each  year  I  am  deeper  in  debt,  but  we  keep 
hoping  for  better  things." 

"  Do  you  see  any  prospect  of  a  betterment  until  Cuba  is 
free?" 

The  Englishman  hesitated.  He  made  sure  that  none  was 
near,  then  he  answered  briefly : 

"No." 

"  What  would  you  do  if  there  should  be  a  revolution?"  que- 
ried Lithgow. 

"  Sometimes,  in  my  hours  of  despair,  I  think  I  would  rush 
in  with  all  my  men  at  my  heels,  but  I  dare  not  whisper  such 
a  thing  to  Raquel.  The  seeds  of  revolt  seem  to  be  in  her 
blood.  If  she  were  a  man,  I  really  believe  that  she  would  be 
rash  enough  to  throw  herself  into  the  jaws  of  the  monster, 
Spain,  in  a  vain  effort  to  help  the  country.  Her  frail  body 
shelters  a  giant  soul.  It's  a  pity  that  some  strong  man  could 
not  have  her  spirit." 

"  She  seems  to  feel  no  fear  of  voicing  her  opinions,"  smiled 
Lithgow.  "  I  have  heard  her  utter  some  bitter  things  against 
Spain.     I  supposed  that  she  took  her  cue  from  you." 

Palgrave  shook  his  head. 

"  I  don't  know  where  she  gets  it,"  he  said  thoughtfully ;  "  it 
always  has  been  in  her.  I  don't  think  I  have  allowed  myself 
to  criticise  Spain  very  much  before  her,  though  it  may  have 
been  that  I  have  done  so  without  noticing  the  effect  upon  her. 
At  any  rate,  she  is  a  rank  revolutionist  at  heart.  It  is  lucky 
for  her  that  she  is  a  woman." 

"  Do  you  care  if  I  disagree  with  you?"  said  Lithgow.  "  Who 
knows  what  she  might  accomplish  if  she  were  a  man?  As  it  is, 
she  must  submit  to  the  uneventful,  possibly  unhappy,  life  of 
femininity  while  she  has  the  capacity  for  a  wider  work." 

Gilbert  Palgrave  looked  at  the  American  with  some  sur- 
prise. 

"  Have  you  noticed  it  too?"  he  asked. 

"  Noticed  what?" 

"  I  scarcely  know  what  term  to  call  it,"  answered  the  father, 
"  but  sometimes  she  seems  to  possess  a  force  that,  unknown 
to  herself,  makes  me  feel  quite  small  and  insignificant.  She 
longs  to  do  such  things  as  Napoleon  did.  Now,  I  confess  that 
no  such  an-bitions  ever  entered  my  youthful  mind.      I  was 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  109 

content  to  live  as  boys  did,  play  their  games,  and  not  trouble 
myself  about  impossible  aspirations.  When  I  was  forced  to 
start  out  for  myself,  I  came  here.  Raquel's  mother  was  a 
Cuban.  Possibly  through  her  crept  this  restless  streak  that 
torments  the  child,  and,  I  may  confess,  me  as  well." 

"  Possibly  if  she  could  have  played  games  with  companions 
of  her  own  age  as  you  did,  her  spirits  might  have  passed  olT  in 
such  healthful  excitement,"  suggested  Lithgow.  "  But  she 
has  lived  within  herself  a  great  deal,  has  she  not?  She  wor- 
ships the  heroes  of  history,  I  can  see  that.  She  craves  ro- 
mances, 5'et  it  seems  to  me  that  she  lives  in  a  veritable  land 
of  romance." 

He  looked  to  where  the  hills  were  putting  on  their  noon- 
day purple  in  the  north;  southward  lay  the  bright  yellow 
green  of  the  cane-fields.  An  African  woman  of  stately  bear- 
ing came  toward  them,  bearing  a  water-jar  on  her  head.  The 
gentle  breeze  stirred  the  leaves  of  the  far-above  palms  but 
touched  not  the  dark,  shining,  irregular  foliage  of  the  parasitic 
jaguey-macho  that  had  a  giant  ceiba  in  its  deadly  grasp.  De- 
spite the  rush  and  flurry  at  the  mills,  an  air  of  indolence  lay 
over  everything.  Black  judios  flew  chattering  over  the  broad 
fields,  but  all  else  appeared  to  sleep  in  the  hot  sunlight. 

He  had  not  been  there  long  enough  as  yet  to  sense  the  iso- 
lation which  encompassed  the  girl  of  whom  they  had  been 
speaking;  though  he  felt  a  shadow  of  the  sadness  which  seems 
to  be  a  part  of  tropical  life,  the  half-divine  pain  which  haunts 
the  heart  and  may  be  bom  of  the  constant  war  which  the 
luxuriantly  flourishing  material  life  wages  against  the  seem- 
ingly quiescent  spiritual  aspirations.  While  he  revelled  in 
the  soft  balmincss  of  the  air  redolent  with  the  sweetness  of 
thousands  of  blossoms  that  rioted  imsecn,  he  knew  that  he  was 
not  condemned  to  the  narcotic  influence  of  a  southern  climate 
for  the  remainder  of  his  existence,  and  that  comforting  fact 
made  him  enjoy  it  the  more,  though  he  might  not  have  been 
conscious  that  this  was  so. 

His  business  with  the  coffee  planter  had  been  consummated 
with  ease  after  the  anxiety  concerning  Raquel  had  susbidcd, 
and  now  nothing  remained  to  keep  him  save  the  meeting  with 
Annizae.  He  congratulated  himself  that  he  had  been  so  for- 
tunate as  to  complete  his  negotiations  with  other  planters 
before  coming  to  La  Buena  Esperanza;  otherwise,  he  would 


I  TO  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

have  been  at  a  loss  to  know  what  to  do  with  Annizae  aftet 
securing  her.  As  it  was,  he  contemplated  sailing  at  once  for 
New  York,  taking  her  with  him  whether  she  wished  or  not. 
He  discussed  this  possibility  with  Raquel  during  the  hours 
which  they  spent  in  the  deep  rocking-chairs  of  the  estrada. 
She  confessed  herself  doubtful  as  to  his  ability  to  accomplish 
this.     He,  as  decidedly,  swore  that  nothing  should  defeat  him. 

"  Our  friend,  Zunega,  will  not  be  the  only  one  to  be  bene- 
fited," he  announced  frankly.  "  It  will  net  the  lawyers  a  nice 
sum  if  he  turns  out  to  be  the  proper  heir,  and  I  shall  not  be 
neglected,  though  to  me  belongs  little  credit.  Had  it  not 
been  for  your  capture,  the  fellow  might  have  lived  and  died  a 
bandit,  'unhonored  and  unsung.'  He  really  owes  his  fortune 
to  you,  seiiorita." 

"  I  am  glad,"  she  answered  simply.  After  a  pause  she 
added :  "  He  will  use  it  well." 

Lithgow  lifted  his  brows. 

*'  Think  you  so?"  he  questioned.  "  One  seldom  does  in  a 
like  case.  Titles,  lands,  mansions,  descending  in  such  an 
abrupt  manner,  are  likely  to  crush  out  what  little  brain  the 
lucky  individual  may  possess.  I  don't  believe  I  could  survive 
such  a  surprise." 

"  Titles?"  she  echoed.  "  You  never  spoke  of  titles  before. 
What  will  he  be  called?" 

"  A  lord,"  smiled  Lithgow.  "  That  will  be  fatal!  He  will 
be  courted,  feted,  worshipped,  by  the  scheming  matrons.  Poor 
Zuiiega,  there  may  be  times  when  he  will  crave  the  stagnation 
of  this  indolent  Cuban  existence.  But.  in  all  probability,  he 
will  forget  it.  The  fascinations  of  London  and  Paris  will  force 
these  days  of  brigandage  out  of  his  mind." 

A  shadow  crossed  Raquel's  face.  She  remained  silent. 
Lithgow  dwelt  on  the  charms  of  continental  cities  in  a  dreamy 
fashion.  Heretofore,  she  had  exhibited  the  most  eager  inter- 
est in  all  that  he  could  tell  her  of  the  world  she  longed  to  see. 
Her  quietness  caused  him  to  regard  her  curiously.  He  won- 
dered where  her  thoughts  had  flown.     Her  eyes  were  sombre. 

"  Un  centavo  por   sus  petisamientos,  se/iorita,"  he  said  gently. 

"  Ah,  my  thoughts  are  not  worth  a  centavo,"  she  returned. 
"  I  was  thinking  that  I  belong  to  the  company  of  which  Socrates 
spoke  to  Glaucon.  Do  you  not  remember?  No?  I  have  seen 
only  shadows  passing  and  repassing  before  me  like  those  which 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  Ill 

Socrates  described  passing  before  the  men  in  the  cave.  I 
have  lived  and  loved  with  the  ghosts  of  dead  men's  thoughts." 
f  "  And  have  had  better  companionship  than  you  are  likely 
to  meet  when  you  are  out  in  the  rush  of  the  world,"  he  re- 
marked. 

"I  never  shall  sec  the  world  nor  its  glorious  stir."  she 
sighed. 

The  American  sighed  too ;  but  for  a  different  reason. 

"  You  have  dreamed  of  it  as  youth  always  dreams,"  said  he, 
with  a  touch  of  pity  in  his  voice.  "  I  have  not  forgotten  that 
I  dreamed  also,  lying  on  my  back  under  the  old  apple  trees. 
What  you  will  find,  solorita  mia,  will  be  disillusionment. 
Humanity  is  less  lofty  and  noble  than  3'ou  deem.  Your  heart 
aches  here  ;  it  might  break  there." 

He  read  in  her  face  that  his  words  had  gone  deep.  She 
had  not  yet  learned  the  art  of  wearing  a  mask  over  her  feel- 
ings. She  turned  her  eyes  upon  him  with  a  surprised  question 
in  their  luminous  depths. 

"  How  do  I  know  that  your  heart  aches?"  he  echoed 
her  silent  query.  "  You  have  told  me  in  a  thousand  voice- 
less ways." 

"  The  seiior  mistakes,"  she  declared  swiftly.  "  My  heart 
aches  not  save  with  joy  to  be  near  my  father  once  more.  I  am 
not  content  to  be  idle,  however;  I  confess  that.  There  is  no 
work  for  my  sex  here  in  Cuba.  In  your  country  it  is  different, 
It  is  different  in  the  land  that  was  my  father's.  Know  you 
women  who  work,  senor?" 

"  Scores,"  he  rejoined.  "  Many  of  them  would  fancy  that 
such  an  existence  as  this  you  lead  would  be  heaven.  Where 
hard  fate  forces  them  to  make  their  own  living,  one's  pity 
bleeds  for  them,  for  their  lot  is  not  enviable.  Where  they  work 
from  choice,  it  is  another  thing.  Such  women  are  happy. 
Their  natures  demand  wide  fields.  I  have  one  friend  whom 
you  would  be  glad  to  know.  She  is  obliged  to  work  for  her 
livelihood,  but  she  loves  her  work.     She  supports  her  mother." 

Raquel  clasped  her  hands  together  with  an  exclamation  of 
delight. 

"  Ah,  how  I  envy  her !"  she  breathed.     "  What  does  she  do?" 

"  She  is  a  sculptor,"  explained  Lithgow,  nothing  loth  to 
talk  about  Beatrice  to  this  Cuban  maiden.  "  She  is  not  much 
older  than  you." 


112  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Raquel's  fingers  unclasped  with  a  little  gesture  of  despair. 

"  Tell  me  about  her,"  she  begged.  "  To  know  that  others 
can  do  these  things  is  something  to  comfort  one." 

Lithgow  recounted  the  history  of  Beatrice's  varying  for- 
tunes, described  her  failures  and  her  successes,  and  uncon- 
sciously put  into  the  tale  a  warm  bit  of  feeling. 

Raquel  listened  attentively.  Once  or  twice  her  face  flushed 
with  pleasure. 

"  It  is  grand  to  be  able  to  accomplish  such!"  she  whispered 
half  to  herself.  Then  she  looked  into  the  eyes  of  the  Ameri- 
can penetratingly.     "  You  have  love  for  her,"  she  said  softly. 

Lithgow  hesitated.     He  was  surprised. 

"  Why?"  he  demanded. 

She  shook  her  head  slowly. 

"  I  know  not,"  she  returned  with  a  smile  ;  but  the  smile  was 
sad.  "  I  feel  it  in  your  voice,  your  eyes.  I  would  love  such  a 
woman  were  I  a  man.  There  are  many  things  that  I  would 
do  were  I  a  man." 

"  And  the  first  would  be ?" 

"  Ah,  you  will  laugh,  seiior,"  she  declared.     "  Papa  laughs." 

"  I  promise  you,"  he  said  solemnly,  "  but  you  need  not  con- 
fide in  me.  I  can  guess.  You  would  fight  for  Cuba.  Ah,  I 
thought  so!  You  have  betrayed  that  intention  before.  That 
is  why  I  ventured  to  affirm  that  your  heart  aches  with  longing 
to  achieve.  Have  you  never  heard  that  'real  action  is  in 
silent  moments  '.?  Possibly,  in  after  years,  you  will  look  back 
on  this  period  of  your  life  with  eyes  that  can  perceive  that  it 
has  been  most  replete  with  mental  growth.  I  have  a  little 
volume  of  Emerson  which  this  girl  sculptor  gave  me  when  I 
came  away.  Emerson  is  her  gospel.  Will  you  accept  it  when 
I  go?  I  think  that  she  would  be  glad  to  know  it  has  fallen 
into  the  grasp  of  one  who  hungers  as  she  has.  I  will  bring  it 
over  from  La  Buena  Esperanza." 

"  You  are  kind,"  Raquel  acknowledged ;  "  but  I  do  not  think 
that  those  words  are  true.  In  a  silent  moment  one  may  gather 
up  force  and  make  ready  to  act ;  but  if  no  opportunity  for 
action  comes,  would  not  all  the  energy  and  ambition  fall  into 
disuse?  A  green  mould  would  creep  over  weapons  which 
might  have  been  powerful." 

"  Inaction  does  not  await  you,  seiiorita,  believe  me,"  he 
argued.     "  That  which  your  nature  demands  will  come  to  it. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  I13 

'Every  sound  that  is  spoken  over  the  round  world  which  thou 
oughtest  to  hear  will  vibrate  on  thine  ear.  Every  proverb, 
every  book,  every  by-word  that  belongs  to  thee  for  aid  or  com- 
fort, shall  surely  come  home  through  open  or  winding  pas- 
sages.' I  am  quoting  from  the  book  which  I  will  leave  with 
you.  Consider  me  as  one  of  the  avenues  through  which  a 
volume  that  every  life  needs  has  come  to  you.  It  will  help 
you.  It  will  strengthen  you  for  that  day  on  which  you  will  be 
forced  to  act." 

"  What  day?"  she  questioned. 

"  I  don't  know  what  day,"  he  returned ;  "  but  it  is  certain  to 
come." 

"  You  puzzle  me,  seiior,"  she  frowned. 

"  Yes:  life  is  a  puzzle,"  rejoined  he,  pushing  back  his  hair 
from  his  forehead.  "  None  of  us  solve  it.  Sometimes  I  wonder 
that  we  try  so  hard.  Would  it  not  be  better  if  you  could  stop 
beating  your  wings,  seiiorita?  '  Sweet  is  the  lower  air  and  safe 
the  homely  levels.'" 

"  You  mean  to  insist  that  I  have  the  ache  in  the  heart,"  she 
commented. 

"  Because  you  betray  yourself,"  he  answered.  "  I  under- 
stand you.  I  appreciate  how  you  long  for  an  absorbing  oc- 
cupation; but,  knowing  the  world,  I  feel  constrained  to  impress 
upon  you  that  you  have  much  for  which  you  may  feel  grate- 
ful.    Love  will  come  to  you.     You  will  marry." 

"  You  think  that  is  the  best  thing  that  can  come  to  us?" 
she  demanded  hotly. 

"  I  do,"  replied  Lithgow  honestly. 

"  What  does  this  girl  sculptor  think.'"  she  questioned  with 
eagerness. 

Lithgow  laughed. 

"I  am  afraid  that  you  and  she  would  agree,"  he  told 
her. 

"  She  will  not  marry?" 

"  She  will  not  marry  i/ie." 

"  Yet  you  will  not  interfere  with  her  work?" 

"Certainly  not;  but  I  would  take  from  her  shoulders  the 
burden." 

"  It    must  be  a  dear  burden  to  care  for  those  wliom  one 
loves!"  murmured  Raquel,  wistfully  thinking  of  Beatrice  and 
her  mother. 
8 


114  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Men  often  find  it  dear,"  commented  Lithgow,  with  a  cov- 
ert smile. 

"  I  would  rejoice  to  be  able  to  help  papa,"  she  continued. 
"  All  my  life  I  have  been  cared  for.  I  have  been  selfish.  I 
even  have  rebelled  against  the  quiet  of  the  surroundings  with 
which  love  has  provided  me.  Now  he  needs  aid.  If  I  were 
a  son  I  could  be  of  use.  I  might  take  the  place  of  the  mayoral. 
As  it  is,  I  idle.  I  even  came  near  costing  an  immense  ransom. 
I  am  of  no  use  in  the  world !" 

"  Coming  days  will  teach  you  the  falsity  of  that  asser- 
tion." The  American  stretched  out  his  long  legs  more  com- 
fortably. He  knew  it  was  near  the  hour  for  the  three  o'clock 
dinner.  M.  Theuriet  was  to  drive  over  with  a  goodly  escort. 
This  drowsy  little  tcte-a-tctc  soon  would  be  interrupted.  He 
had  taken  more  pleasure  in  observing  the  varying  expressions 
of  her  changeful  face  than  his  devotion  to  Beatrice  would  war- 
rant. "  Already  you  have  accomplished  more  than  many 
women  do  in  an  entire  life,"  he  added. 

"  ComoV  She  was  very  serious.  She  had  none  of  the  little 
arts  common  to  femininity,  but  her  half-lifted  lids  exercised 
a  power  that  she  little  imagined.  Lithgow  drew  his  glance 
away  with  difficulty. 

"  What  a  danger  to  men's  hearts  she  will  be  when  she 
understands  how  to  employ  her  fascinations!"  he  ejaculated 
silently.     Aloud  he  said: 

"  If  I  should  tell  you,  I  should  be  trespassing  on  the  right 
of  the  years." 

"  They  will  unfold  nothing,"  she  replied  impatiently. 

He  heard  the  cracking  of  the  whip  of  M.  Theuriet's  pos- 
tilion. He  saw  an  expression  that  was  not  gladness  cross  her 
face. 

"  Daily  is  being  unfolded  before  your  vision  a  little  drama," 
he  ventured  to  warn  her.  "  Your  gaze  is  fixed  on  a  horizon  so 
distant  that  you  cannot  see  what  lies  near  at  hand." 

Startled,  she  sought  to  read  his  meaning  in  his  face. 

"  I  do  not  understand,"  she  finally  said,  with  a  troubled  look. 

"No:  you  do  not  understand,"  he  shook  his  head.  "But 
you  will." 

He  wondered  that  she  did  not  grasp  his  meaning  when,  a 
second  later,  the  Frenchman  entered  the  sala.  He  perceived 
the  wave  of  displeasure  which  shot  over  M.  Theuriet's  visage 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  115 

with  the  discovery  that  her  father  was  not  present  and  that 
they  were  enjoying  the  chat  in  the  estrada.  He  endeavored 
to  restore  his  host's  good  humor  by  offering  to  go  in  search  of 
the  sugar  planter,  but  was  held  by  Theuriet's  query  given  with 
uplifted  brows: 

"  Ees  cet  more  necessaire  now  zan  before,  inoii  ami!  Eef 
you  will  pairmit,  I  will  join  een  ze  conversation." 

Raquel  lifted  her  eyes  for  one  swift  moment  to  those  of  the 
American,  with  the  realization  in  them  that  the  conversation 
had  been  such  that  it  was  not  easy  to  share  with  a  third  party. 

"  You  can  give  us  your  opinion  as  to  the  chances  of  my 
finding  the  bandit  woman  at  the  spot  designated,"  Lithgow 
said  quickly.     "  The  senorita  is  skei:)tical." 

"  Still  do  you  discuss  zat  question?"  demanded  the  French- 
man, with  a  show  of  i^olite  surprise,  glancing  sharply  at  Raquel, 
in  whose  face  he  read  something  new. 

"  Why  not,  monsieur?"  demanded  Lithgow,  comprehending 
the  suspicion  delicately  expressed. 

"  Why,  monsieur?"  smiled  Theuriet.  "  Gains  one  mooch  by 
speculation?     Ees  eet  not  as  well  to  wait  wizout  questioning?" 

"  Perhaps,  monsieur,"  admitted  Lithgow  graciously.  "  I 
fear  that  I  have  been  so  stupid  as  to  weary  the  seiiorita  with 
my  aflfairs.     I  trust  she  will  pardon." 

He  strolled  out  into  the  court  with  an  apology.  Something 
was  coming  over  him  which  made  it  diflicult  for  him  to  sil  and 
observe  the  eyes  with  which  Theuriet  dwelt  on  Racjucl's 
beauty.  It  offended  him.  He  resented  it.  From  the  court 
he  passed  out  at  the  entrance  and  went  among  the  trees  snr- 
rounding  the  house. 

"  He  is  no  fit  mate  for  that  girl !"  he  said  disgustedly.  "  lie 
can  make  her  mistress  of  La  lUiena  Esperanza,  and  she  slill 
can  be  near  her  father.  •  He  will  alTord  her  occasional  jaunts 
to  Havana.  But  this  is  all  her  life  is  to  be !  Heavens !  What 
will  she  say  when  she  learns?  I  was  fearfully  tempted  to  tell 
her,  just  to  see  the  look  which  would  come  into  her  eyes.  I 
fancy  it  would  be  horror." 

And  at  that  moment  M.  Theuriet  was  saying  persuasively 
to  Raquel  who.  though  her  inclination  was  to  run  away,  was 
compelled  to  remain  and  entertain  him : 

"  Your  papa  ees  een  vera  sad  plight,  via  c/it'rc  mademoiselle. 
We  must  see  what  eet  ees  posseebl'  for  us  to  do,  must  we  not? 


Ii6  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

We  are  ze  only  ones  zat  can  help  him ;  ees  eet  not  so?  Ah, 
vraiment !     You  lov'  him?" 

"  Better  than  my  life.  Monsieur  Theuriet,"  she  cried  ear- 
nestly. "  I  know  that  he  is  in  trouble.  There  is  nothing  I 
would  not  do  to  help  him ;  but  what  can  I  do,  monsieur?  He 
tells  me  there  is  nothing." 

M.  Theuriet's  eyes  wore  an  unholy  look. 

"  Listen,"  he  whispered,  drawing  near  to  her.  "  I  will  tell 
you  zat  which  I  am  willing  to  do ;  wiz  ze  aid  ov  you  much 
more  can  be  accomplished.  You  know  zat  he  owes  me  money? 
Bien!  I  am  willing  not  only  to  cancel  zat  loan  but  I  also  will 
pay  ze  debts  which  he  has  made  wiz  ze  Catalans." 

"  You  will,  monsieur?"  exclaimed  Raquel,  grasping  both  of 
his  old  hands  in  her  soft  ones.  "  What  nobility !  Who  will 
reward  you?" 

It  was  coming  swifter  than  Theuriet  had  anticipated.  He 
had  intended  to  lead  up  to  it  in  a  wonderfully  clever  manner. 

"  You,  Raquel,  you,"  he  whispered,  his  thin  lips  almost 
bloodless. 

Raquel  rose  to  her  feet.  She  dropped  his  hands.  A  hor- 
rible premonition  of  his  meaning  froze  her  heart. 

"  How?"  she  asked  simply,  but  her  voice  and  eyes  were  ter- 
rible.    Theuriet  almost  cowed  beneath  them. 

"As  my  wife." 

She  understood  the  meaning  of  Lithgow's  words  now.  She 
marvelled  that  she  did  not  shriek,  that  she  did  not  faint,  that 
she  did  none  of  those  things  which  she  would  have  deemed 
natural.  As  it  was,  she  never  moved.  She  only  pressed  her 
fingers  tighter  on  the  back  of  the  chair  as  she  stood  there,  fac- 
ing this  suitor.  She  studied  his  graying  hair,  his  sharp  eyes 
peering  out  at  her  from  under  his  heavy  brows;  she  contem- 
plated his  curled  mustache  and  the  curve  of  his  nose.  She 
knew  that  the  sight  of  these  awakened  a  repugnance  within 
her  the  violence  of  which  she  had  not  conceived.  She  heard 
him  ramble  on  excitedly,  telling  how  long  he  had  worshipped 
her;  what  he  would  do  for  her;  that  every  luxury  should  be 
showered  upon  her;  and,  crowning  temptation,  she  should 
spend  the  season  in  Havana.  His  words  entered  into  her  ears, 
but  made  no  impression  upon  her  brain.  All  that  she  had  com- 
prehended was  that  this  man  would  lift  from  her  father's 
shoulders  the  heavy  burden  of  debt  which  yearly  grew  more 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  II7 

unbearable.  In  exchange,  she  would  have  to  give  her  life — 
it  would  be  the  same  as  her  life,  would  it  not?  rebclliously  de- 
manded her  heart.  But  had  she  not  just  declared  that  she 
would  oflfer  up  everything  to  help  her  father?  Had  she  not 
told  the  American  that  she  would  rejoice  to  be  able  to  aid  him? 
By  this  sacrifice  would  she  not  be  caring  for  him  in  the  only 
way  that  offered? 

"  Does  my  father  know  of  this?"  she  asked  at  last,  in  a  tense 
voice. 

"  Non,  non"  Theuriet  shook  his  head.  He  knew  well  that 
her  father  never  dreamed  of  the  mean  advantage  which  his 
neighbor  was  taking.  Palgrave  had  supposed  that  the  matter 
had  ended  when  the  ransom  was  not  required.  "  He  must  not 
be  told,  not  xmteel  your  mind  ees  made.  He  deems  me  aged. 
He  would  think  you  could  not  lov'  me.  He  would  fear  zat 
your  lov'  for  him  would  mak'  you  say  zat  which  your  heart 
had  no  part  een." 

Raquel  did  not  smile  at  his  presumption.  She  only 
asked : 

"  Would  you  expect  that  I  could  love  you,  monsieur?" 

"  I  would  make  you,"  declared  Theuriet  with  a  smile  of 
fancied  power. 

"  It  would  be  impossible,"  returned  the  girl.  "  I  would  hate 
you." 

Theuriet  shrugged  his  shoulders  with  an  undefinable  ex- 
pression on  his  wrinkled  features. 

"  Tant  viieux,"  he  returned,  "  then  I  would  hav'  ze  plaisair 
of  winning  your  lov'.  Even  eef  your  lov'  came  not,  I  would 
be  happee  to  know  zat  you  were  happee." 

"I,  happy?"  she  echoed.  "Do  you  for  one  moment  fancy 
that  I  could  be  happy  as  your  wife,  monsieur?" 

"  Why  not?"  he  questioned  lightly.  "  Hav'  you  not  believed 
zat  you  would  stop  at  nothing  which  would  help  him?  Would 
you  not  be  happee  eef  he  were  happee?" 

"  But  he  never  could  be  happy  if  I  were  not !"  cried  Raquel. 

"  No,"  admitted  the  Frenchman,  "  but  how  is  he  to  know  zat 
you  are  not  happy?  You  are  romantic.  You  look  for  ze  com- 
ing of  a  lovair  who  will  be  young  and  beautiful;  but  such  an 
one  will  not  hav'  ze  monnaie.  Your  father  would  be  no  bet- 
tair  off.  You  do  not  know  what  lov'  ees,  yet.  I  will  teach 
you.     Will  you  not  so  pairmit,  Raquel?" 


Il8  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Raquel  shuddered  from  head  to  foot.  She  turned  to  leave 
the  sala. 

"  Perhaps  you  mean  to  be  kind,  monsieur,"  she  said  in  a  low 
voice.     "  I  can't  tell." 

Theuriet  stepped  in  front  of  her,  caught  her  hand  and 
touched  his  lips  to  it. 

"  Speak  nozing  to  your  papa  unteel  you  hav'  decided.  He 
would  not  let  you  mak'  what  he  would  fear  was  a  sacrifice.  He 
rather  would  suffair  heemselv  alone ;  oh,  oui!  Eet  ees  true  zat 
I  hav'  years  more  zan  you;  but,  my  heart  ees  young.  You 
must  zink;  you  will  be  een  a  position  to  do  mooch  zat  you 
desire.  You  will  be  riche.  You  can  travel.  P'orget  none  of 
ze  advantages,  Raquel.  Zey  are  not  to  be  deespised  even  eef 
lov'  does  not  come." 

He  relinquished  her  fingers  and  watched  her  pass  from  the 
sala.  She  never  had  appeared  more  beautiful.  Scarlet  spots 
burned  on  each  cheek.     Her  eyes  were  like  molten  flame. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

Raquel  went  out  into  the  court  and  up  the  broad  staircase 
to  the  upper  corridor  with  a  feeling  that  she  had  been  trans- 
formed into  stone.  Her  limbs  moved  with  difficulty.  She  was 
forced  to  place  her  cold  fingers  on  the  balustrade  in  order  to 
assist  herself  to  ascend.  All  elasticity  appeared  to  have  de- 
parted from  both  body  and  spirit. 

Within  her  chamber,  she  paused  and  pulled  the  gauzy  por- 
tieres across  the  doorway.  There  was  no  other  method  of 
shutting  herself  in.  She  then  walked  to  the  centre  of  the  room 
and  looked  about  her  with  a  dazed  expression.  Everything 
remained  the  same.  She  alone  was  changed.  The  little  white 
net-draped  bed  was  the  same  she  had  occupied  from  childhood. 
There  were  the  worn  places  on  the  rug  where  she  had  knelt 
before  the  little  crucifix  on  which  the  soft  radiance  of  the 
faintly  burning  candle  shone  dimly.  On  the  simple  dressing- 
table  still  rested  her  open  book.  Cheerless  though  the  tropical 
bedroom  with  its  bare  floor  and  walls  would  have  looked  to 
eyes  accustomed  to  the  more  luxurious  furnishings  of  the 
North,  to  Raquel  it  was  the  dearest  spot  she  knew. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  II9 

She  put  her  hands  up  over  her  head  and  clasped  her  fingers 
desperately.  Her  burning  eyes  seemed  to  peer  hopelessly 
down  through  the  years.  She  wondered  vaguely  at  her 
strange  quietude.  She  could  utter  no  sound.  Nothing  that 
could  have  been  uttered  would  have  voiced  the  tumult  within 
her.  She  was  making  the  discovery  that,  under  the  keenest 
sufferings,  the  human  is  dumb.  Light  woes  bring  ready  ex- 
postulations, rebellion,  tears.     Crushing  sorrows  seal  the  lips. 

It  seemed  to  her  that  she  stood  there  years,  so  much  did 
she  live  in  those  moments. 

"This  is  what  the  Americano  meant,"  she  whispered  to 
herself.     "  He  must  have  known." 

She  turned  wistfully  toward  the  little  crucifix.  The  woman 
within  her  yearned  to  pour  out  this  anguish  somewhere. 

"  What  good  will  it  do  me  to  kneel  there?"'  she  said  with 
bitterness.  "  No  answer  has  ever  come !  Who  knows  if  there 
be  an  ear  that  listens?  If  there  were,  would  not  Cuba  have 
been  free  years  ago?  Then  there  would  be  no  taxes  that  eat 
the  profits,  no  debts,  no — a/i,  AlaJre  Je  Jcsii  ! — no  need  of  this 
which  has  come  for  me  to  do !" 

But,  she  went  and  crouched  before  the  white  pitiful  Christ. 

Gradually  the  fire  gave  way  to  a  heart- weariness;  but  it 
had  burnt  deep  circles  under  her  eyes. 

She  rested  her  hands  before  the  altar.  She  bent  her  dark 
head  upon  them. 

"  If  my  mother  were  living!"  she  moaned. 

The  summons  for  the  three  o'clock  dinner  X'ang  out. 

She  arose.  She  knew  that  her  absence  would  cause  her 
father  such  wonderment  that  he  would  not  rest  until  he  learned 
the  reason  of  it. 

She  bathed  her  face,  and  was  horrified  to  find  that  her  dimin- 
utive mirror  gave  back  a  countenance  so  altered  that  there 
was  no  hope  that  it  would  not  be  perceived.  She  paused  ir- 
resolutely. She  knew  of  no  remedy.  She  must  descend. 
She  shivered  at  the  prospect  of  sitting  through  the  dinner  with 
the  old  Frenchman's  eyes  upon  her. 

"  Querida  mia,  we  are  waiting."  she  heard  her  father's  voice 
in  the  court. 

She  gathered  up  all  her  strength  of  will  and  stepped  out 
into  the  corridor.  Then  she  prayed  as  she  had  not  prayed  on 
her  knees. 


I20  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Help  me !  Help  me,  Jesu !"  she  cried  silently  as  she  went 
down  the  stairs. 

The  three  men  stood  waiting  for  her  in  the  court. 

She  essayed  to  smile  as  she  saw  her  father's  loving  face, 
but  her  lips  refused  to  obey  the  mandate  of  her  will. 

She  did  not  look  at  Lithgow ;  but  he,  after  one  glance  at 
her,  divined  what  had  transpired  in  the  sala.  A  great  wave 
of  pity  rushed  through  his  soul.  He  turned  upon  M.  Theuriet 
with  indignation,  feeling  that  the  girl  had  been  taken  advan- 
tage of.  But  the  coffee  planter  was  watching  Raquel  with 
eyes  that  did  not  perceive  the  American's  fierce  glance. 

"  What  is  the  matter,  dearest?"  questioned  Palgrave  anx- 
iously.    "  Are  you  ill?" 

"  Not  enough  to  be  frightened  about,"  she  said,  with  the 
heroic  smile  that  women  can  sometimes  conjure  up  for  the 
sake  of  those  whom  they  love.  "  J'aivial  a  la  tete,  as  monsieur 
would  say."  She  purposely  half  addressed  the  Frenchman  in 
order  to  get  the  worse  of  the  ordeal  over  at  first. 

"  Possibly  you  are  beginning  to  feel  the  effects  of  the  strain 
you  were  under  during  those  horrible  hours,"  suggested  Lith- 
gow quickly.  "  It  has  been  surprising  how  well  you  have 
borne  up." 

"  Eet  has,  vraiment"  agreed  M.  Theuriet. 

At  dinner,  Palgrave  still  regarded  his  daughter  in  a  manner 
that  threatened  to  be  distressing.  Lithgow  exerted  himself 
to  turn  the  attention  from  her  as  much  as  possible,  and  suc- 
ceeded to  such  an  extent  that  when  she  finally  allowed  her 
gaze  to  encounter  his  there  v/as  gratitude  to  be  seen  in  the 
depths  of  her  grave  eyes. 

Never  before  in  his  life  had  Lithgow  striven  harder  to  make 
himself  entertaining.  His  companionship  was  a  boon  to  these 
two  men  so  far  removed  from  the  bustle  of  northern  life.  They 
enjoyed  his  tales  and  laughed  over  his  stories,  lamenting  that 
his  stay  was  so  soon  to  be  brought  to  an  end.  Occasionally,  M. 
Theuriet  threw  Raquel  a  searching  look,  but  he  failed  to  meet 
her  eyes.  He  knew,  however,  that  they  no  longer  wore  the  ex- 
pression which  had  been  theirs  when  she  left  the  sala.  That 
was  some  comfort.  He  knew  also  that  she  had  not  told  her 
father.  He  did  not  believe  that  she  would.  He  felt  certain 
that  he  had  handled  her  with  consummate  skill. 

Once  she  spoke. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  I2l 

"  Do  you  know  what  the  liantasse  is,  senor?"  she  asked 
Lithgow,  without  lifting  her  lids. 

"  I  must  confess  my  ignorance,"  he  returned,  aware  that  she 
was  trying  to  supplement  his  efforts.  "  What  a  brave  heart 
she  has!"  he  told  himself  admiringly.  "  No  one  dreams  what 
she  is  suffering,  not  even  he  who  is  the  cause  of  it."  He  was 
conscious  of  a  growing  aversion  for  M.  Theuriet.  What  busi- 
ness had  a  man  of  his  years  to  crave  a  child  for  a  wife!  He 
was  asking  this  question  in  his  mind  over  and  over  during  that 
dinner.     His  sympathies  were  awake. 

"What  /j- the  liantasse,  qiierida  mia?"  queried  her  father 
curiously. 

"  One  of  the  forest's  treasures,"  she  exclaimed.  "  It  is  to 
the  foresters  what  the  cups  of  the  wild  pines  are  to  the  bird 
tribe.  It  contains  that  which  quenches  thirst.  Mr.  Hamilton 
is  a  liantasse  to  us.  We  have  taken  a  little  section  out  of  his 
life  and  have  replenished  our  own  minds  from  his  store.  When 
he  goes,  we  shall  thirst  again." 

Lithgow's  ready  tongue  failed  him.     He  was  silent. 

The  two  planters  applauded  Raquel's  metaphor. 

Lithgow  compelled  Raquel's  straight  gaze  to  meet  his. 
He  sent  down  into  the  depths  of  her  consciousness  a  look  that 
stirred  her  vaguely.  He  had  hoped  to  convey  to  her  that  he 
understood  and  desired  to"  be  of  service  to  her.  She  did  not 
know  what  she  read,  but  she  was  aware  of  a  subtle  sense  of 
comfort  which  had  been  absent  before. 

In  the  evening,  there  was  to  be  the  final  celebration  among 
the  blacks.  Raquel's  return  had  afforded  them  a  legitimate 
cause  for  rejoicing  which  they  had  not  been  slow  to  improve. 

Already  a  score  of  little  black  imps  of  the  negro  quarters 
were  armed  with  nets  attached  to  poles  by  means  of  which 
they  contemplated  snaring  the  fireflies  for  decorative  pur- 
poses. 

The  afternoon  had  melted  away  imperceptibly  to  all  save 
Raquel.  To  her  the  long,  luxuriously  served  dinner  had 
seemed  interminable.  It  was  with  a  sigh  of  relief  that  she 
passed  into  the  court  again  while  Lithgow  held  back  the  cur- 
tain for  her.     He  ventured  to  follow  her. 

"  Do  you  know,"  he  began,  thinking  it  best  to  make  con- 
versation, "people  believe  what  is  not  true  about  southern- 
countries.     Really,  tropical  lands  are  the  most  temperate  in  all 


J 22  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

things".  Seldom  are  committed  any  of  the  excesses  with  which 
the  frozen  blood  of  the  North  warms  itself.  The  southern 
nature  is  volatile,  not  brutish;  graceful  and  happy;  never 
clumsy  and  morose.  I  have  heard  it  declared  that  this  climate 
was  conducive  to  physical  perfection,  but  fatal  to  the  spiritual. 
Compare  the  tropical  man,  however,  with — say,  the  Esquimau. 
Northern  latitudes  fail  to  produce  the  spiritual  yearning  that 
this  marvellous  clime  awakens.  There  is  something  in  this  air 
that  seems  a  perpetual  promise  or  warning,  I  have  not  been 
able  to  decide  which.  These  are  the  words  which  have  sung 
themselves  in  my  ears  ever  since  I  came : 

"'O  world  !  so  few  the  years  we  live, 

Would  that  the  life  which  thou  dost  give 
Were  life  indeed. '  " 

"  Don't  you  think  we  should  be  glad  that  it  is  not?"  said 
Raquel  quickly. 

"But  we  don't  know  what  the  other  life  may  be,"  he 
smiled. 

"  At  any  rate,  it  could  not  be  worse  than  this  threatens  to 
be,"  she  flashed,  before  she  was  aware  how  much  her  words 
betrayed. 

"  Is  it  as  bad  as  that?"  he  asked  gently,  stopping  and  lean- 
ing against  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  corridor.  "  Won't  you  tell 
me  what  has  brought  that  look  of  dread  into  your  eyes?  Per- 
haps I  can  help  you." 

She  shook  her  head.  There  was  that  in  his  voice  which 
was  almost  as  tender  as  she  fancied  a  mother's  tone  would  be. 
She  felt  tears  creep  under  her  lids. 

"  I  am  a  stranger ;  you  never  will  see  me  again,  what  differ- 
ence will  it  make  if  you  unburden  your  heart  to  me?"  he  ques- 
tioned, throwing  all  possible  entreaty  into  his  words.  "  You 
must  tell  some  one.     You  will  not  confide  in  your  father." 

She  looked  at  him  half  defiantly. 

"  How  do  you  know  that  I  will  not?" 

"  Because  you  concealed  as  much  as  you  could  at  the  dinner- 
table." 

"You  tried  to  help  me,  seiior,"  she  returned  gratefully, 
plucking  and  pulling  into  fragments  a  gorgeous  purple  blossom. 

"  I  saw  that  you  suffered,"  he  replied.  "  Mere  headache 
does  not  bring  to  one's  eyes  the  expression  that  you  so  nobly 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  1 23 

endeavored  to  banish  with  a  forced  smile.  This  look  was  not 
in  your  face  when  we  were  chatting  in  the  sala.  Did  anything 
that  I  said  bring  it?" 

"  No,  seiior,"  answered  she  truthfully. 

He  waited  an  instant.     Then  he  asked  in  a  still  lower  tone  : 

"  What  did  M.  Theuriet  agree  to  do  if — you  would  marry 
him  ?" 

She  drew  herself  up  proudly.  Her  eyes  blazed  as  they  had 
in  the  sala  at  the  Frenchman. 

"He  has  told  you!"  she  cried  in  a  whisper  replete  with 
scorn.  She  would  have  been  past  him  and  up  the  staircase  if 
he  had  not  dared  to  restrain  her. 

"  Let  me  speak  of  this  to  you,"  he  begged.  "  How  can  you, 
a  mere  girl,  judge  what  is  best  to  do?  I  fancy  that  already  I 
see  in  your  face  the  determination  to  submit.  Your  father 
will  not  permit  it  if  he  reads  in  your  countenance  what  I  do." 

"  He  shall  read  nothing  but  what  I  mean  that  he  shall,"  she 
averred. 

"  But  a  broken  life  has  a  language  of  its  own,"  he  told 
her.  "  It  can  be  read  like  an  open  book.  You  will  fail  to  dis- 
guise it." 

"  I  can  try,"  was  her  answer. 

Gilbert  Palgrave  and  M.  Theuriet  came  out  into  the  court 
at  that  moment,  each  smoking  a  cigar.  Theuriet  glanced  at 
the  nearness  of  his  guest  and  Raquel.  His  already  lined  brow 
took  on  another  line. 

"  We  may  as  well  sit  here  until  the  contradanza  is  given," 
suggested  the  sugar  planter,  selecting  a  seat  near  Raquel's 
hammock.  "  Come  here,  tni  cara  inia;  take  your  hammock  as 
usual.  It  will  rest  your  head.  Is  it  better?  Yes?  The  gen- 
tlemen will  pardon  your  freedom.  I  will  sit  beside  you.  I 
almost  am  afraid  to  let  you  out  of  my  sight." 

Raquel  complied,  glad  to  shield  her  face  from  too  direct 
gaze.  She  thrust  her  fingers  within  those  of  her  father. 
Through  the  strips  of  bright-colored  awning  she  caught 
glimpses  of  the  darkening  heavens. 

"  Your  Cuban  skies  are  a  combination  of  our  brilliant  ones 
and  the  luminous  ones  of  Europe,"  observed  Litligow,  settling 
himself  comfortably  in  a  manner  that  obscured  M.  Thcurict's 
view  of  Raquel.  "  The  way  in  which  you  sweep  from  sunlight 
into  starlight  reminds  me  of  that  wonderful  moment  when  one 


124  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

shoots  from  the  glow  of  the  Bay  of  Naples  into  the  cool,  blue 
restfulness  of  the  cave  of  Capri." 

"  How  much  you  have  seen,  senor,"  sighed  Raquel,  all  her 
old  longing  for  a  glimpse  beyond  Cuba  rushing  over  her. 

"  You  hav'  ze  years  een  which  to  see  zem  also,  senorita,"' 
reminded  M.  Theuriet  with  a  meaning  which  only  Gilbert  Pal- 
grave  missed. 

Lithgow  lighted  a  cigar  and  smoked  a  few  moments  before 
he  remarked : 

"  In  the  little  book  of  which  I  spoke,  seiiorita,  you  will  find 
something  like  this:  'Not  in  Nature,  but  in  man  is  all  the 
worth  and  beauty  he  sees.  The  world  is  very  empty  and  is 
indebted  to  this  gilding,  exalting  soul  for  all  its  pride.'  Go 
where  you  will,  if  the  soul  is  sick  within,  there  is  little  beauty 
even  through  it  throbs  around  you." 

"  You  believ'  een  ancient  philosophie,  Jiion  ami,"  observed 
M.  Theuriet. 

"  I  am  inclined  to  believe  anything  that  my  own  experience 
proves  true,"  replied  Lithgow.  "  Has  not  some  one  said,  'the 
universe  is  represented  in  an  atom,  in  a  moment  of  time'  ?" 

"  Mr.  Hamilton  has  discovered  my  fondness  for  books,"  Ra- 
quel said  to  her  father.  "  He  promises  to  leave  me  the  one  he 
spoke  of." 

"I  dislike  to  be  reminded  that  he  is  going  to  depart," 
Palgrave  confessed.  "  We  shall  miss  our  liantasse,  shall  we 
not?" 

"  I  little  dreamed  that  I  should  be  welcomed  so  hospitably 
into  your  home,"  returned  Lithgow  gratefully.  "You  will 
not  be  half  so  sorry  as  I  when  the  hour  comes  for  me  to  make 
my  farewells ;  and  I  suppose  that  that  time  will  be  soon.  Is 
it  not  to-morrow  that  I  am  to  meet  my  forest  lady?" 

"  She  is  more  likely  to  be  an  African  Amazon,"  laughed  the 
sugar  planter.  "  You  will  go  well  armed,  of  course ;  and  I 
shall  do  myself  the  pleasure  of  supplying  you  with  a  mounted 
force  of  my  men." 

"  You  are  too  kind,"  expostulated  Lithgow.  "  I  could  not 
think  of  permitting  such  a  thing.  You  need  the  services  of 
every  man  Jack  of  them  now  in  order  to  make  up  for  lost  time. 
I  shall  get  on  famously,  believe  me." 

"  Eet  will  be  possebl'  for  mc  to  send  men  wiz  you  wizout 
inconveniencing  myselv  one  partcecl',"  announced  M.  Theu- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  1 25 

riet.     "  I  even  am  desirous  ov  accompanying  you  to  see  how 
ze  madame  accepts  your  words." 

"  1  shall  feel  relieved  to  be  thus  guarded,"  admitted  Lith- 
gow,  "  and  I  trust  that  you  will  not  witness  my  defeat.  I  hope 
to  make  the  woman  confess  the  deception  she  played,  and 
acknowledge  that  Zuiiega  is  the  child  for  whom  she  heartless- 
ly exchanged  her  own." 

"  What  was  her  object  in  so  doing,  do  you  imagine?"  in- 
quired the  owner  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa. 

"  She  might  have  thought  her  action  would  place  her  own 
child  where  she  evidently  felt  that  he  belonged ;  or  her  ma- 
ternal sentiments  may  have  been  swallowed  up  by  her  over- 
whelming desire  to  rob  of  joy  both  her  master  and  mistress. 
Did  any  man  yet  ever  succeed  in  fathoming  a  woman's 
reason?" 

"  Hola !  The  dances  are  beginning!"  exclaimed  Palgrave, 
rising  to  his  feet.  "  We  must  go  out  and  watch  them.  They 
will  be  new  to  you." 

In  the  open  space  between  the  mansion  of  the  master  and 
the  plantain  grove  behind  which  stretched  the  negro  quarters, 
all  of  the  unoccupied  members  of  the  plantation  were  gathered 
to  the  lugubrious  music  of  a  drum.  Already  a  circle  had  been 
formed  within  which  two  dusky  figures  of  superb  development 
were  moving  slowly  in  the  prelude  to  that  rhythmic,  sensuous 
utterance  of  the  life  that  beats  with  tropical  languidness.  Lith- 
gow  had  witnessed  the  wildness  of  the  Tarantella  danced  on 
the  white  sands  of  Italy,  but  never  had  he  beheld  anything  of 
the  nature  of  this  movement  of  which  only  Cuba  knows  the 
secret. 

The  scene  reminded  Raquel  of  Faquita's  passionate  dance 
in  the  heart  of  the  forest,  and  she  drew  closer  to  her  father. 
Her  soul  had  been  filled  with  apprehension  then;  now,  it  beat 
with  the  sluggishness  of  despair,  a  despair  which  he  must 
never  discern.     He  folded  his  arm  around  her  tenderly. 

"  Their  rejoicing  takes  an  audible  form,"  he  whispered  soft- 
ly, "  but  it  is  as  a  wisp  of  vapor  compared  to  mine,  which  is 
silent  because  of  its  magnitude." 

There  was  no  visible  instrument  from  which  the  plaintive 
cadences  of  the  music  for  the  contradanza  could  come,  yet 
there  crept  up  through  the  purple  night  air,  lieavy  with  sweet- 
ness, the  most  thrilling  melody  the  American  ever  had  heard. 


126  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

It  chilled  him  even  while  its  passion  was  stealing  like  a  seduc- 
tive poison  through  every  nerve.  Fascinatedly,  he  watched 
the  two  shadowy  forms,  one  of  which  was  sparkling  with  the 
phosphorescent  flash  of  the  insect  jewels  that,  still  alive  and 
unharmed,  hung  by  natural  hooks  in  her  drapery  and  hair. 

There  was  something  entrancing  in  the  grace  and  precision 
of  the  step  of  the  bronze  fauns  thus  disporting  in  the  marvel- 
lous moonlight  known  to  the  Caribbean  and  its  islands.  There 
was  that  in  the  weird  music  which  enthralled.  The  soft  night 
winds  seemed  filled  with  a  mystery  which  the  music  strangely 
voiced.  It  wailed,  it  swelled  into  voluptuous  tones,  it  rioted 
in  passionate  tumult,  it  sank  to  tenderest  whispers;  and  all 
the  time  the  dancing  forms  silently  wove  their  spell  about 
their  watchers,  mesmerizing  them  into  experiencing  all  of  the 
emotions  with  which  the  music  throbbed. 

Afterward,  Lithgow  never  could  explain  satisfactorily  to 
himself  how  it  happened.  He  only  remembered  that,  moved 
by  that  mysterious,  luxurious  melody,  he  had  in  some  way 
caught  hold  of  Raquel's  fingers;  that  they  quivered  within 
his  retaining  clasp  but  were  not  immediately  withdrawn. 

No  thought  of  Beatrice's  calm  face  crossed  his  memory. 
He  was  conscious  of  nothing  but  the  girlish  figure  beside  him 
whose  draperies  touched  him,  whose  hand  palpitated  within 
his  like  a  frightened  bird.  All  past,  all  future,  vanished  in 
those  moments  while  the  music  bent  them  with  its  magic  and 
swayed  them  from  their  moorings  with  its  subtle  witchery. 
And  she,  did  she  know  the  force  of  this  unfamiliar  tide  that 
rocked  them  with  its  surging?  He  sought  to  read  her  face,  but 
it  was  turned  from  him. 

The  movements  of  the  dancers  had  become  wilder;  the 
melody  crept  upward  with  a  cry  of  hungry  longing,  the  sus- 
pense grew  almost  too  tense. 

Suddenly  Raquel  snatched  her  fingers  away  from  him. 

"  Not  another  moment!  I  can't  endure  another  moment  of 
it !"  he  heard  her  say  to  her  father  pleadingly.  "  Let  us  return 
to  the  court." 

M.  Theuriet  turned  backward  with  them. 

"  Eet  ees  not  necessaire  for  you  to  come,"  he  said  to  the 
American.  "  Remain  eef  eet  please  you.  We  hav'  seen  eet 
before.     To  you,  eet  ees  new." 

And  Lithgow  remained  out  in  the  moonlight. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  127 

He  no  longer  watched  the  dancers.  He  strolled  among  the 
orange  trees.  He  threw  himself  down  on  the  ground  and 
stared  up  through  the  foliage  at  the  wide,  indigo  heavens. 

"  I  had  no  more  right  to  touch  her  hand  than  I  would  have 
had  to  kiss  her  lips,"  he  swore  at  himself  savagely.  "  It  was 
sacrilege.     She  is  a  child." 

He  lifted  his  hand  until  the  bright  moonlight  fell  full  upon 
it.  A  tender  look  went  over  his  face.  He  brought  the  hand 
to  his  lips.  A  faint  fragrance  seemed  to  cling  to  his  fingers. 
He  sighed.  The  stir  of  the  music  was  still  in  his  blood.  He 
could  hear  it  rising  and  falling  in  that  circle  beyond  the  trees. 
He  knew  that  it  was  responsible  for  his  lapse  from  fealty ; 
but  the  lapse  had  been  so  full  of  sweetness !  An  iinreasonable 
exultant  joy  possessed  him.  He  endeavored  to  crush  it  out  of 
recognition. 

"  She  is  the  personification  of  the  mystical  being  who  figured 
in  my  dreams  under  the  old  apple  trees,"  he  told  himself  with 
a  smile  that  was  sad,  "  She  will  be  one  of  those  women  who 
move  men  unwittingly.  She  may  go  through  life  ignorant  of 
her  fatal  power.     I  don't  know  but  that  I  hope  she  will.     Yet, 

— the  thought  of  her  as  the   wife   of  Theuriet  is "      He 

sprang  to  his  feet.     He  turned  toward  the  white  walls  of  the 

house  that  held  her.     " 1  must  not  let  it  be  anything  to 

me.'"  he  said  resolutely. 

He  found  the  two  planters  lounging  in  the  deep  easy-chairs 
in  the  court. 

"  Ah.  wearied  at  last,  eh !"  saluted  Palgrave.  "  Raquel  has 
begged  to  be  excused.  I  believe  that  she  has  retired.  Her 
head  was  aching.  She  requested  me  to  give  you  her  buenas 
noches." 

"  It  will  be  some  time  before  your  escort  can  tear  itself 
away  from  the  fascinations  of  the  celebration,  M.  Theuriet." 
the  planter  continued.  "  There  have  been  extensive  prepar- 
ations going  on  all  day.  No  doubt  a  feast  is  in  store.  Would 
it  not  be  better  for  you  to  remain  the  night." 

The  Frenchman  would  not  be  persuaded. 

"  You  forget  that  Mr.  Hamilton  starts  for  zc  forest  een  /,e 
early  hours,"  he  reminded.  "  I  will  wait  untcel  midnight  has 
come.  Ze  men  must  be  ready  to  accompany  us  to  La  Buena 
Esperanza  by  zat  time.  Ze  numbair  ov  zcm  will  rcmov'  all 
danger  ov  a  posseebl'  attack  from  ze  dread  Alarcon.     I  am 


128  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

verra  cautious  since  ze  warning  ov  ze  bizarre  creature  called 
'Faquita. ' " 

"  If  only  we  had  suspected  the  identity  of  that  daring  fellow, 
we  should  have  done  the  Spanish  government  a  good  service 
and  enriched  our  coffers,"  sighed  the  sugar  planter. 

"  Ah,  wiz  him  een  ze  safetee  of  ze  Moro  walls  I  certainlee 
should  feel  more  comforta-a-bl',"  agreed  M.  Theuriet. 

Listening  to  their  conversation  but  taking  small  part  in  it, 
Lithgow  sat  till  midnight  in  the  odorous  hush  of  the  quadran- 
gle. The  moonlight  illumined  the  square  and  dimmed  the 
brightness  of  the  ends  of  their  cigars.  The  waters  splashed 
lazily  in  the  fountain ;  the  thin  curtains  in  the  upper  doorways 
fluttered  with  the  cool,  night  winds ;  the  palm  shook  its  crest 
with  a  shuddering  breath  as  if  it  scented  danger  in  the  air. 

Without,  the  plaintive  melody  gradually  died  away.  The 
dancers  had  been  succeeded  by  other  dancers  who  also  had 
given  way  in  their  turn,  until,  finally,  the  entire  circle  had 
taken  part  in  the  entertainment  and  were  ready  to  seek  spots 
of  repose. 

M.  Theuriet's  blacks  presented  themselves  for  service, 
rather  worn  but  still  jubilant. 

The  drive  to  La  Buena  Esperanza  was  unusually  silent. 

M.  Theuriet  dozed  a  portion  of  the  distance  despite  the 
noise  made  by  his  accompanying  guard  galloping  alongside. 
Occasionally  he  aroused  himself  sufficiently  to  address  his 
companion  in  a  polite  attempt  to  disprove  any  possible  accu- 
sation of  somnolency. 

Lithgow  lent  himself  to  the  sinuous  motion  of  the  volante, 
but  no  sleep  came.  He  was  more  keenly  awake  than  he  ever 
had  been  in  his  life. 

'  This  moonlight  would  have  driven  Shelley  mad !"  he  com- 
mented reflectively.     "  Perhaps  there  is  some  excuse  for  me !" 


CHAPTER   XH. 


The  cavalcade  which  was  to  show  the  American  the  route 
to  the  shrine  chosen  by  Faquita  started  from  the  coffee  plan- 
tation before  the  fragrance-steeped  darkness  had  been  lifted 
from  the  crowns  of  the  hills.     The  melligenous  dew  dropped 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  129 

noiselessly  from  the  leaves  to  the  earth.  Here  and  there  a  be- 
lated cocullo  flashed  with  the  indecision  of  firefly  nature. 

Though  Faquita  had  said  that  the  meeting  would  be  at 
night,  Lithgow  was  anxious  to  reach  the  rendezvous  early 
enough  in  the  afternoon  to  be  certain  of  his  plans. 

The  dissipation  of  the  evening  previous  had  left  the  blacks 
very  quite.  So  silent  was  the  company  that  the  hook-billed 
judios  scarcely  were  disturbed  by  this  matutinal  procession, 
and  only  fluttered  occasionally  to  a  lower  bough. 

The  foliage  by  the  highway  assumed  fastastic  and  some- 
times threatening  shapes,  but  nothing  stole  out  upon  them 
save  the  narcotic  perfumes  of  a  southern  night. 

"  How  the  artistic  soul  of  Beatrice  would  revel  in  the  novelty 
of  these  scenes,  as  widely  dissimilar  from  prosaic  New  York 
as  would  be  the  life  of  far-away  India!"  he  exclaimed  to  him- 
self as  he  observed  the  muscular  forms  of  the  blacks  becoming 
gradually  more  distinct  with  the  approach  of  day.  There  was 
not  the  long,  lingering  grayness  of  the  north  ere  the  first,  faint 
tinge  of  color  appeared.  With  a  suddenness  that  was  bewilder- 
ing, they  found  themselves  in  the  midst  of  a  marvelous  glory 
which  seemed  to  have  been  created  solely  for  them.  The 
mists  still  hung  about  them,  reluctant  to  lift  their  white  wings 
and  leave  the  vegetation  to  be  again  scorched  by  the  heat  of 
the  sun-god's  passion.  Every  leaf  dripped  and  crystal  beads 
clung  to  the  manes  of  the  horses.  The  hills  were  transfig- 
ured. 

Lithgow  had  witnessed  sunrise  from  the  Mongibello  of  the 
Sicilians.  He  had  stood  awed  while  the  huge  monolith  cast 
its  purpling  shadow  far  across  the  world;  but  he  had  not  ex- 
perienced the  emotions  which  swayed  him  now  in  a  valley 
shut  in  by  mountains  of  Cuba. 

"  It  is  a  dream  !"  he  said  softly.  "  If  I  could  choose  the  hour 
of  my  death,  I  would  wish  it  might  be  when  the  sun  rises  over 
Cuba !" 

"  Ah,  you  are  beginning  to  feel  ze  lov'  zat  all  ov  Cuba's  in- 
habitants grow  to  experience  for  zc  beautiful  island,"  re- 
marked M.  Theuriet,  suppressing  a  yawn.  "Despite  ze  extor- 
tions ov  ze  Spanish  and  ze  drawbacks  ov  a  life  here,  zose  who 
once  know  Cuba  hav'  for  eet  ze  most  maddening  devotion." 

They  talked  on  desultorily  while  their  horses  steadily  pur- 
sued the  easy  gait  known  as  the  Cuban  "march."  Lithgow 
9 


tjO  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

thought  that  possibly  the  Frenchman  would  mention  the  re- 
sult of  the  conversation  he  had  had  with  Raquel  in  the  sala, 
but  M.  Theuriet  now  was  silent  on  that  subject,  though  pre- 
viously he  had  shown  no  hesitancy  in  discussing  his  hopes 
with  his  whilom  guest. 

"  It  is  none  of  my  business,"  the  American  told  himself  with 
prudent  recollection.  "  If  I  had  not  chanced  this  way  the 
thing  would  have  happened,  and  I  been  none  the  wiser  or 
sadder.  Certainly  I  am  not  called  upon  to  interfere.  It  is 
past  the  days  of  knight  errantry.  What  possible  good  would 
it  do  if  I  should  venture  to  overstep  the  bounds  of  etiquette 
and  expostulate  with  the  old  rascal?  Already  I  have  shown 
him  quite  pointedly  that  his  views  are  not  in  conformance 
with  mine.  He  means  to  secure — Raquel — "  he  hesitated 
over  the  name.  The  fever  of  the  music  and  the  moonlight 
was  still  in  his  veins.  "  Perhaps  the  union  will  be  no  worse 
than  those  which  are  consummated  yearly  between  impecu- 
nious noblemen  and  wealthy  American  beauties,  yet  the  heir- 
esses are  willing  to  assume  the  marriage  bond,  while  she— the 
child  shrinks  from  it.  She  will  sacrifice  herself  wantonly  for 
the  sake  of  her  father!  Dare  I  warn  him.?  What  is  permissi- 
ble in  such  a  case?  I  am  a  stranger,  but  would  he  not  condone 
my  interference?" 

These  thoughts  came  and  went  through  his  mind  repeatedly 
in  various  disguises  while  he  conversed  with  his  host  and  the 
morning  hours  crept  by.  The  penetrating  sunlight  revealed 
flashes  of  brilliant  red  and  green  plumage  among  the  branches 
that  spread  above  their  path.  Discordant  shrieks  of  fright 
and  displeasure  convinced  them  that  the  feathered  tribe  re- 
sented this  invasion  of  their  realm. 

They  passed  one  dilapidated  shrine  where  the  entire  group 
of  horsemen  made  obeisance  to  the  grotesque  little  image 
meant  to  represent  the  beautiful  Mother  of  the  Immaculate. 
Lithgow  removed  his  sombrero  as  the  others  did,  but  he 
looked  instead  up  at  the  towering  mass  of  vegetation  toward 
which  they  were  wending  their  way. 

"  Obediently  they  worship  the  symbol,"  he  murmured,  "  but 
can  they  entertain  no  conception  of  the  magnificent  Force 
which  builds  and  builds  tirelessly  while  the  Ages  creep  away? 
This  glorious  burst  of  ever-renewing  green  life  voices  a  ser- 
mon that  tongue  of  man  never  uttered  and  never  can !" 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  131 

"  Zees  ees  not  ze  shrine,  but  we  might  eat  our  almuerzo  here 
by  eets  side,"  suggested  M.  Theuriet,  ordering  his  men  to  dis- 
mount and  spread  out  the  slight  breakfast  which  had  been 
brought  by  them. 

The  hunger  of  the  American  made  him  appreciative  of  his 
host's  thoughtfuhiess.  He  threw  himself  down  by  the  shrine 
and  sought  to  make  himself  more  companionable  than  he  had 
been.  For  the  hospitality  which  the  coffee  planter  had  ac- 
corded him,  he  knew  that  he  had  been  contemplating  making 
a  poor  return  by  attempting  to  thwart  the  plans  that  M. 
Theuriet  had  entertained  for  so  long.  He  felt  guilty  one 
moment  and  justified  the  next. 

"  The  sooner  that  I  secure  the  woman  Annizae  and  leave 
the  island,  the  better  it  will  be  for  all  concerned,"  he  decided 
as  he  drank  a  bottle  of  Catalonian  wine  with  the  Frenchman, 
who,  ignorant  of  the  designs  which  he  could  not  avoid  nurs- 
ing, wished  him  all  possible  success.  "  If  Beatrice  possessed 
the  power  of  projecting'  her  astral  self  through  space  and 
could  read  my  present  dilemma,  she  would  declare  that  she 
had  won  her  wager.  But  that  I  have  wavered  for  one  instant 
in  my  allegiance  to  her  she  never  shall  know.  She  could 
never  understand  the  power  of  Cuban  moonlight,  the  contra- 
danza  music — and  Raquel!  The  child  does  not  understand 
her  own  power,  that  is  what  makes  it  so  irresistible.  Heigh- 
ho!  This  is  a  queer  world!"  With  which  reflection  he  en- 
deavored to  banish  from  his  consciousness  the  realization  that 
this  girl  of  an  isolated  sugar  plantation  had  moved  him  as 
never  woman  had  done  before.  But  when  they  were  again 
mounted  and  skirting  the  edge  of  the  forest,  he  learned  the 
troubling  truth  that  the  memory  of  those  fatal  moments  would 
not  be  consigned  to  oblivion.  Back  -into  his  thoughts  it  crept 
with  insidious  sweetness,  and  he  dwelt  upon  it  with  that  weak- 
ness which  cries: 

"  It  is  only  for  this  moment,  this  one  moment  out  of  life. 
I  will  feed  upon  it  while  it  lasts.  None  shall  know  of  the 
poison  which  it  leaves  in  my  blood.  None  shall  dream  of  the 
barrenness  it  seems  to  cast  over  all  the  years  in  which  it  must 
be  forgotten." 

He  remembered  those  lines  of  Jean  Jaques  Weiss :  "  The  hu- 
man mind  is  twice  limited.  It  may  love  several  times  and  it 
may  fully  enjoy  love  but  once." 


132  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"I  will  enjoy  it  while  I  may,"  he  resolved,  "but  Raqtiel 
shall  be  none  the  wiser.  Beatrice  will  be  conscious  of  no  loss. 
I  alone  will  be  the  one  to  suffer." 

Wild  pigeons  flew  among  the  foliage.  M.  Theuriet  called 
his  attention  to  their  lovely  tinged  necks  and  breasts.  The 
red  throat  of  the  bright  green  pedorreva  attracted  notice  to 
its  fly-catching  abilities  by  its  sharp  click.  To  the  south  rose 
the  mountain  which  Faquita  had  designated.  Veiled  in  the 
softest  of  greens,  one  never  would  have  imagined  how  precipi- 
tous the  range  was  to  which  it  belonged.  By  the  side  of  the 
highway  foamed  an  angry  little  stream  that  finally  would 
spread  into  a  river  and  gnaw  its  way  through  the  hills  to  the  sea. 

The  sun  had  grown  hot.     The  road  was  dusty. 

"  We  shall  hav'  long  to  wait,  but  ze  rest  will  be  refresh- 
ing," said  M.  Theuriet.  "  Eet  will  not  tak'  us  more  zan  two 
hours  to  reach  ze  spot  now." 

"  I  am  consumed  with  regret  that  I  permitted  you  to  under- 
take this  tedious  trip,  Monsieur  Theuriet,"  declared  Lithgow. 
"  Nothing  but  your  unexcelled  courtesy  is  responsible  for  this 
self-abnegation,  I  am  sure." 

"  Ah,  pardon,  you  mistak',"  protested  M,  Theuriet.  "  I  am 
anxious  to  perceiv'  how  you  conquer  ze  madame.  I  am  in- 
terested in  ze  fortunes  ov  ze  magnifique  caballero  who  so 
proudly  refused  to  be  rewarded.  His  story,  eef  eet  be  true, 
ees  most  wonderful.  I  should  be  stupeed  indeed  did  I  not 
mak'  your  efforts  as  easy  as  posseebl'." 

The  afternoon  whiled  itself  away  with  languorous  content. 
With  their  horses  concealed  from  view,  the  men  arranged 
themselves  comfortably  in  the  ambush  that  the  underbrush 
and  vines  afforded.  Here  they  were  comparatively  safe  from 
attack  in  that  they  would  have  the  advantage  in  case  that 
Faquita  played  them  false  by  allowing  Alarcon  to  learn  of 
the  rendezvous. 

It  was  the  first  time  that  the  American  had  stepped  within 
the  brooding  gloom  of  a  Cuban  forest.  Though  just  on  the 
edge  of  its  mysteries,  he  was  held  speechless  by  what  he  be- 
held. 

He  waved  his  hand  upward  to  where  he  caught  glimpses  of 
brilliant  florescence  high  amid  the  canopy  of  emerald,  through 
which  fell  dim  rays  of  sunlight  that  possessed  the  shadowy 
refulgence  known  to  groined  cathedrals. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  133 

"  Perhaps  it  cost  that  boy  nothing  to  go  out  from  the  slum- 
berous beauty  of  this  strange  world,  peopled  with  stalwart 
sentinels  of  the  years,"  he  commented  to  M.  Theuriet.  "  but  I 
count  it  an  act  of  heroism.  He  did  not  know  that  he.  was 
walking  into  a  fortune.  He  supposed  that  all  that  remained 
for  him  was  voluntary  exile." 

In  the  mean  time  Faquita  and  Annizae  were  threading  the 
labyrinthine  forest  paths  with  the  speed  which  familiarity 
gave.  Alarcon  and  his  men  were  absent  from  the  camp. 
They  had  been  gone  for  three  days.  And  those  days  had 
been  full  of  trouble  to  the  woman  who  followed  the  steps  of 
Faquita.  Her  taciturn  visage  was  heavy  with  anxiety,  which 
she  endeavored  to  conceal  beneath  an  atTectation  of  her  usual 
indifference. 

Faquita  moved  with  light  tread.  Most  of  the  time  her  face 
wore  a  smile  that  was  excessively  irritating  to  the  older  wo- 
man, who  shot  angry  glances  at  her  as  an  occasional  snatch  of 
song  burst  from  her  lips. 

"  Cuidado  !  "  she  warned  once.  "  How  knowest  thou  that 
Alarcon  will  not  hear  and  follow?  Thou  art  aware  that  he  is 
a  chameleon;  can  he  not  even  change  himself  into  a  tree.''' 

Faquita  shrugged  her  shoulders. 

"  Gonzalo  is  far  from  here,"  she  declared. 

"  Quicit  sabe  ?  "  retorted  Annizae.  "  Thou  wouldst  like  noth- 
ing better  than  that  he  should  discover  that  I  go  in  search  of 
Zunega." 

"Ungrateful!  Why  then  should  I  accompany  you?"  de- 
manded Faquita.  "  Gonzalo  is  on  the  wrong  track.  Did  I 
not  tell  him  that  Zuiiega  had  gone  south?" 

"  Ah,  but  he  had  not,  you  say.  Who  knows?  Alarcon  may 
have  found  him  here  in  these  caves.  What  may  not  happen 
in  three  days?  Even  now  Zunega  may  be  hanging  between 
two  trees.  When  Gonzalo  Alarcon's  face  wears  the  look  it 
does,  it  speaks  of  ill  to  him  he  hates." 

Faquita  said  nothing.  She  had  been  too  late  to  witness 
Alarcon's  anger  when  he  discovered  Zuiicga's  treachery.  She 
had  ridden  into  camp  with  the  two  horses  when  the  wildness 
of  his  rage  was  past;  but  there  had  been  that  in  his  eyes 
which  warned  her  it  were  not  wise  to  vaunt  her  triumph.  On 
the  spur  of  the  moment  .she  had  resorted  to  an  expedient 
which  seemed   preferable   to   sudden   death.     She    had   pre- 


134  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

tended  that,  discovering  the  absence  of  Zunega  and  his  charge, 
she  had  taken  a  second  horse  and  had  followed  them  in  the 
hope  of  persuading  Zunega  to  return.  This  he  had  refused  to 
do ;  and  she  had  gone  on  and  on  with  the  expectation  of  dis- 
covering his  plans.  He  had  outwitted  her,  however.  He 
had  proceeded  south  over  the  mountains.  Alarcon  could  go 
himself  and  see  if  he  could  do  better  than  she  had.  All  this 
she  said  with  the  appearance  of  truth  in  her  face ;  and  Alarcon, 
relinquishing  the  madness  which  had  made  him  swear  to 
shoot  her  through  the  heart  when  he  succeeded  in  tracking 
her  and  her  companions,  credited  her  words  and  started  over 
the  range  in  pursuit.  He  knew  every  hiding-place  in  the 
range.  Zuiiega  could  not  escape.  The  dog  should  meet  the 
death  of  a  traitor,  and  the  seiiorita  should  be  his  again.  So 
he  swore  as  he  rode.  And  Annizae,  knowing  what  the  anger 
of  Gonzalo  Alarcon  meant,  trembled  for  the  safety  of  Zufiega. 

The  falsehood  had  not  lain  heavily  on  Faquita's  conscience. 
She  knew  that  Zufiega  was  far  toward  safety  before  Alarcon 
started  in  the  opposite  direction ;  but  she  dared  not  tell  An- 
nizae. While  she  regretted  the  loss  of  her  triumph  she  rea- 
soned that  it  was  better  to  be  alive  and  able  to  win  future 
conquest  than  it  would  be  to  be  dead  and  powerless  to  enjoy 
the  victory  she  had. 

Her  apparent  heartlessness  made  Annizae  raging.  Nothing 
but  Annizae 's  fear  for  Zuiiega,  and  her  desire  to  see  him  and 
urge  him  to  fly  far  from  the  mountains,  allowed  her  to  endure 
the  presence  of  the  girl.  For  some  reason  which  she  could 
not  explain  to  herself,  she  doubted  the  tale  which  Faquita 
had  related.  It  looked  honest  enough;  Zuiiega  was  gone; 
Faquita  had  returned.  In  spite  of  effort  she  failed  to  fathom 
the  reason  of  Zuiiega's  action.  She  was  wrathful  at  him  even 
while  her  mind  was  filled  with  fear  for  his  safety.  What  had 
there  been  about  that  little  muchacha  to  make  him  faithless 
to  his  chief?  She  had  bitter  words  ready  for  him  when  Fa- 
quita should  at  last  lead  her  to  the  spot  where  he  was  in  hid- 
ing. It  was  a  long  journey;  long  even  for  her  who  was 
accustomed  to  the  wearisome  struggles  with  forest  tangles. 

It  was  past  ten  when  they  emerged  from  the  blackness  of 
the  trees  and  approached  the  shrine.  Faquita's  heart  sank 
within  her.  There  was  not  a  sign  of  life.  She  bent  before 
the  Virgin   and  said  a  prayer.      But  Annizae  stood  upright, 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  1 35 

looking  into  the  night  with  piercing  vision.  The  glorious 
moonlight  flooded  the  scene.  Suddenly  she  caught  Faquita's 
arm  and  half  dragged  her  to  her  feet. 

"  One  comes,"  she  whispered.     "  Hast  thou  no  signal?" 

"  No,"  answered  Faquita.  "  I  will  go  and  see  if  it  be 
Zunega." 

Annizae  remained  motionless.  Her  lips  were  tightly 
pressed.  She  heard  the  crackling  of  bushes.  She  could  not 
yet  distinguish  the  cause.  Then  Faquita's  voice  said  cau- 
tiously : 

"Advance,  seiior!     It  is  Annizae." 

Annizae  shrunk  back  against  the  shrine.  She  gave  a  low 
cry  of  anger. 

"  Faquita  betrays  me !    It  is  not  Zunega !"  she  cried  fiercely. 

She  could  have  darted  into  the  shadow  of  the  woods  and 
escaped,  but  her  desire  to  be  certain  held  her.  Lithgow  ap- 
proached. She  trembled,  though  she  knew  by  his  costume 
that  he  was  not  one  of  the  guardia  civile;  consequently  what 
should  there  be  to  fear? 

"  It  is  one  who  brings  news  of  Zuiiega,"  Faquita  told  her 
breathlessly.     "  He  is  safe." 

Annizae  was  full  of  suspicion. 

"  Donde  ?  "     she  interrogated  cautiously. 

"  In  Havana,"  replied  Lithgow.  "  He  is  going  to  the  United 
States." 

She  was  silent  through  astonishment  for  a  moment,  then 
she  demanded: 

"  How  know  you,  seiior?" 

He  flashed  into  the  moonlight  the  ring  which  he  wore. 
Wondering  what  would  be  the  result,  he  answered: 

"  This  ring  tells  me,  Brojvn  Annizae.  Shall  I  mention 
what  else  it  reveals?" 

Her  eyes  travelled  from  his  face  to  the  ring  and  back  again. 
Her  limbs  seemed  to  give  way  beneath  her.  Her  voice  was 
hoarse  when  she  accused : 

"  He  has  been  killed!     These  are  lies  that  you  speak!" 

"  Listen,  Brown  Annizae"  advised  Lithgow  impressively. 
"  You  shall  hear  what  this  ring  makes  known."  He  was  posi- 
tive that  she  crouched  backward  with  the  repetition  of  her 
name  as  it  had  been  spoken  in  the  years  past.  He  wished 
that  it  were  daylight  that  he  might  better  study  her  face.     He 


136  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

changed  his  position  so  that  the  moonlight  fell  full  upon  her. 
"  Zunega  goes  to  the  States  and  he  goes  to  England.  He 
crosses  the  deep  waters  that  his  father  did.  He  must  claim 
the  fortune  which  his  father  went  to  claim  at  the  time  when 
you  stole  Zufiega  from  the  ship  and  put  your  own  child  in 
his  place." 

He  did  not  have  to  watch  closely  the  effect  of  his  announce- 
ment. Annizae  was  huddled  together,  her  face  in  her  hands. 
To  her  superstitious  mind  this  man  was  possessed  of  the  Evil 
One  or  was  that  personage  himself.  How  could  he  know  so 
much  if  he  were  not?  No  one  but  herself  knew  this  which  he 
was  uttering.  No  priest  had  won  it  from  her  breast.  She 
had  whispered  it  before  no  cross.  She  shook  with  a  fright  in 
which  was  mingled  her  old-time  hatred.  If  he  knew  so  much 
he  must  know  more,  she  argued  to  herself  vaguely.  She 
lifted  her  great  eyes  with  a  question  burning  in  them. 

"  She?  Where  is  she?  Does  the  ring  tell  that  too,  seiior?" 
she  demanded,  never  for  a  moment  dreaming  of  denying  it 
all.  What  was  the  use  of  declaring  it  false  when  he  knew? 
He  possessed  the  "  evil  eye,"  or  he  could  not  look  that  far 
back  in  the  years.  No  doubt  his  glance  would  poison  her ; 
she  would  die  as  the  victim  of  the  fer-dc-lance  dies,  the  rotten 
flesh  dropping  from  her  bones!  But— she  would  ask  one 
question.  Out  of  the  silence  of  the  years  which  had  elapsed 
she  would  wring  one  satisfaction.  She  would  know  the  fruits 
of  her  revenge. 

"  She  is  dead !"  answered  Lithgow  solemnly. 

"  Gracias  d  Dios  f  she  shrieked  ecstatically.  "  La  Madre  de 
Jesii  has  heard  my  prayers.  I  have  burned  candles  on  every 
shrine,  praying  that  death  would  take  her  from  him.  But  it 
has  been  so  long— I  grew  tired;  sometimes  I  almost  forgot. 
Now,  I  remember  again!  Where  is  hel  Are  you  of  his 
blood?"  She  leaned  nearer  him.  The  sudden  savagery  in 
her  face  made  the  American  experience  a  chill  in  spite  of 
himself.  "  Is  that  how  you  can  tell  things  which  even  the 
priests  themselves  cannot  bring  to  light,  or,  are  you  el  diablo?" 

"  I  am  neither,"  returned  Lithgow.  "  I  have  come  to  tell 
Zuiiega  that  you  are  not  his  mother ;  that  you  have  robbed 
him  of  all  his  rights.  I  have  come  to  take  both  of  you  to 
England,  where  you  are  to  make  reparation  for  the  wrong  you 
have  done  him." 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  137 

"I  go  never,  seiior,"  she  said  defiantly. 

"Those  whose  hearts  you  broke  are  dead,"  Lithgow  told 
her  solemnly.  "  You  need  have  no  fear.  No  punishment 
awaits  you." 

"  Is  /ie  dead?"  she  repeated.  She  leaned  heavily  against 
the  shrine. 

"  He  is  dead.  Zufiega  goes  to  take  his  place  as  Lord  Har- 
berton." 

She  remained  silent. 

Faquita  had  stood  spellbound.  She  had  expected  anything 
but  this  strange,  submissive  manner,  so  unlike  Annizae. 

"  There  was  another  child,"  reminded  Lithgow.  "  Have 
you  forgotten?" 

An  unexpected  fury  flamed  into  life.  Her  entire  manner 
altered.  There  in  the  moonlight,  in  her  unkempt  attire,  with 
her  hair  loose  and  wild,  she  looked  like  a  Medusa. 

"  What  did  she  do  with  him?"  she  cried  wildly.  "  She  took 
my  place;  it  was  right  that  my  child  should  take  the  position 
of  hers.  Was  it  not  all  that  I  could  do?  Sorry?  i\uniu.' 
Aht7ica !  I  know  that  it  cost  her  tears;  I  meant  that  it  should. 
It  was  her  time  to  weep,  as  I  had  done.  Did  she  kill  him? 
That  would  not  give  her  back  her  own.  No !  I  thought  of  all 
that.  I  put  her  own  beyond  her  reach.  She  can  never  have 
him.     She  is  dead?    It  is  just!" 

"  She  educated  him,"  replied  Lithgow,  excited  with  this 
certain  proof  of  Zufiega's  identity.  "  You  made  a  bandit  out 
of  her  child.     She  tried  to  make  a  gentleman  out  of  yours." 

He  watched  every  change  of  her  dark  features.  He  read 
that  to  win  her  to  accompany  him,  he  must  play  upon  the  de- 
lights of  the  triumph  which  the  years  had  brought  her. 

"  No  power  now  can  keep  you  from  walking  through  the 
rooms  where  she  was  known  as  mistress,"  he  suggested.  "  The 
time  was  when  he  would  not  permit  you  to  be  taken  to  his 
country;  now,  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  your  going  as  she 
went.  Once  in  England  you  can  learn  for  yourself  if  my 
words  be  true.  You  will  taste  the  sweetness  of  the  ven- 
geance you  wrought.  You  no  longer  will  be  one  who  hides 
from  pursuit.  You  believe  that  Heaven  has  placed  your  tri- 
umph in  your  hands — no?  Will  you  let  it  slip  through  your 
fingers?  Will  you  not  see  for  yourself  what  was  done  with 
the  son  you  relinquished?    I  have  come  far  to  tell  you  thi.;. 


13S  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

but  had  it  not  been  for  Zunega's  nobleness  in  restoring  the 
senorita  it  would  have  remained  untold.  You  never  would 
have  known  the  satisfaction  which  now  shines  in  your  eyes. 
You  would  have  lived  and  died  an  outlaw.  As  it  is,  the  ease 
and  luxury  which  were  hers  will  be  yours." 

She  shook  her  head.  But  the  long-smothered  instincts  of 
femininity  had  received  an  electric  touch.  They  sprung  into 
energetic  life  with  a  suddenness  that  surprised  her.  "  The 
things  that  were  hers  will  be  yours."  That  was  a  temptation 
which  stirred  her  to  her  very  depths.  All  the  wild  hunger 
and  ambition  that  had  been  her  misery  in  the  days  gone  by 
now  swept  over  her  resistlessly  with  the  strength  of  pent-up 
force.  The  poison  of  the  malice  which  had  burned  in  her 
blood  ate  into  her  heart  once  more.  Memory  was  alive  again. 
The  narcotic  influence  of  the  forest  had  lulled  it  into  a  repose 
which  had  been  deceptive.  The  fury  of  the  passion  which 
had  caused  her  to  forfeit  her  own  flesh  and  blood  in  order  to 
rob  her  rival  of  happiness  stormed  within  her  in  all  its  old 
mastery  after  this  long  stretch  of  years.  Go?  Was  there  a 
spot  on  earth  to  which  she  would  not  go  if  she  might  drain 
this  triumph  of  all  its  joy? 

She  did  not  know  what  time  sped  by  while  she  relived  the 
past  and  dared  to  peer  with  victorious  gaze  on  into  the  won- 
derful future  which  her  uneducated  fancy  opened  before  her. 
With  drawn  brows,  a  cruel  smile,  and  demoniacal-looking 
hair,  she  half  knelt  in  front  of  the  shrine,  but  there  was  no 
supplication  in  her  breast  that  the  unholy  pleasure  which  was 
affording  her  unbounded  satisfaction  might  be  removed  from 
her  for  the  good  of  her  soul.  Neither  was  there  thought  of 
possible  good  to  Zunega  in  her  mind.  Everything  was  con- 
sumed in  the  selfish  fire  of  jealousy  and  hatred,  on  which  fresh 
faggots  had  been  piled. 

M.  Theuriet  had  crept  carefully  from  his  place  of  conceal- 
ment and  stood  behind  her. 

She  appeared  oblivious  to  them  all. 

Lithgow  observed  her  anxiously.  He  realized  that  she  was 
undergoing  a  struggle,  but  of  its  fierceness  he  had  no  concep- 
tion. He  had  resolved  that  if  she  refused  to  go  peaceably  he 
would  have  her  taken  by  force.  He  knew  that  the  men  were 
in  readiness.  He  glanced  up  at  the  heavens.  The  cross  was 
not  visible,  but  he  felt  the  hour  was  late. 


A   DAUGHTEK   OF  CUBA.  139 

"  Midnight  is  near.  We  must  be  gone.  Go  you  with  us, 
Annizae?" 

She  lifted  herself  as  from  a  dream.  She  arose  to  her  full 
height.  There  was  something  magnificent  about  the  crea- 
ture. Her  life  in  the  midst  of  cultured  people  had  given  her 
a  grace  of  bearing  and  a  refinement  which  had  not  been  wholly 
lost  in  the  nomadic  existence  she  since  had  led.  The  Ameri- 
can was  conscious  of  a  wave  of  surprised  admiration.  That 
she  had  possessed  in  her  youth  the  matchless  beauty  which  a 
mixture  of  blood  sometimes  bestows  was  not  to  be  doubted. 

"If  your  words  be  true,  senior,"  she  said  with  a  decisive 
tone  he  had  not  expected. 

"  How  can  I  prove  their  truth  save  by  this  ring?"  he  ques- 
tioned, going  close  to  her  and  holding  his  hand  so  that  she 
might  inspect  the  ornament  as  well  as  was  possible  by  moon- 
light.    "  You  recognize  it?" 

"  It  is  Zuiiega's,  senor,"  she  declared. 

"  No ;  Zuiiega  wears  his  still.  This  is  what  was  sent  to  con- 
vince you  of  what  I  have  said.  When  we  reach  Havana  you 
will  see  that  Zuiiega's  is  where  he  placed  it  when  you  gave 
it  to  him." 

"  How  know  I  that  I  will  not  be  imprisoned,  senor?"  She 
looked  out  at  him  sharply. 

"  You  do  not  know  unless  you  can  believe  my  word,"  he 
admitted.  "  I  promise  you  that  no  harm  shall  be  yours. 
When  Zunega  is  proven  to  be  the  rightful  heir  to  Harberton 
Towers,  you  may  return  to  these  forests  if  you  will.  You 
will  have  gold  of  your  own.     You  may  do  what  you  please." 

Though  no  idea  had  been  suggested  by  the  lawyer  as  to 
what  disposition  would  be  made  of  Annizae,  he  thtmght  he 
was  safe  in  making  the  assertion.  Those  last  words  of  his 
were  happy  ones.  They  appeared  to  decide  her.  She  threw 
out  her  hands  and  permitted  them  to  drop  at  her  sides  with 
an  air  of  capitulation. 

"  I  go,  senor,"  she  agreed. 

Lithgow  gave  a  quick  signal,  and  immediately  they  were 
surrounded  by  M.  Theuriet's  men. 

Annizae  did  not  suppress  a  start  of  surprise  at  their  appear- 
ance. She  understood  now  that  had  she  not  gone  willingly, 
she  would  have  been  taken.  Fear  seized  her,  but  she  reflected 
that  if  she  did  not  see  the  ring  on  Zuiiega's  finger  in  Havana 


MO  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

she  would  know  that  deceit  was  in  the  stranger's  mouth  and 
she  then  could  effect  her  escape.  She  comforted  herself  with 
the  thought  that  her  wits  were  liable  to  be  as  sharp  as  those 
of  an  ingles,  and  she  resolved  to  trust  to  luck. 

The  horses  were  brought  forth  and  Annizae  mounted  with 
the  ease  of  accustomedness. 

Faquita  leaned  against  the  shrine.  A  depression  was 
creeping  over  her.  She  meant  to  retrace  her  steps  through 
the  forest  with  haste.  It  would  not  do  for  her  to  be  absent 
from  the  camp  if  Alarcon  should  return.  She  wished  to  seem 
to  have  had  no  part  in  this  disappearance  of  Annizae. 

Lithgow  held  out  his  hand  to  her  in  farewell. 

"  Why  not  go  with  us?"  he  said  gently.  "  This  forest  life 
is  not  for  such  as  you.     You  have  known  other  things." 

"  And  if  I  have,  what  then,  seiior?"  she  queried  in  the  same 
tone. 

"  Does  your  heart  never  turn  back  toward  them?" 

"  My  heart  is  here,  seiior,"  she  said  with  a  sort  of  sad  joy. 
"  I  have  followed  it,  that  is  all." 

He  looked  up  to  where  Annizae  sat  motionless,  waiting. 

"  It  is  to  Faquita  that  you  owe  your  triumph,  Bnm'n  Anni- 
zae" he  said.  "  But  for  her  Zunega  never  would  have  brought 
the  seiiorita  to  the  walls  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa." 

Annizae  expressed  no  gratitude.  She  only  looked  down  at 
Faquita  with  a  knowing  smile  and  said : 

"  That  was  better  than  the  manchineel  apple,  Faquita — no?" 

Faquita's  eyes  flashed.  She  dimly  understood  Annizae's 
accusation,  though  it  was  unfounded. 

"  The  manchineel  apple  would  have  been  preferable  to  the 
fate  that  thou  wert  willing  the  seiiorita  should  have,"  she 
cried  bitterly. 

Annizae's  broad  shoulders  shrugged  with  irresponsibility. 

"Thou  wast  thinking  of  thyself  as  ever,  Faquita,"  she  re- 
turned. "  I  know  well  that  thou  wouldst  have  brought  no 
good  to  me  if  thou  hadst  known  what  thou  wert  doing." 

"Who  knows  that  it  is  good  that  will  come?"  queried 
Faquita. 

"  Hush !"  begged  Lithgow.  "  The  service  you  have  done 
has  been  too  great  to  spoil  in  this  manner.  If  Annizae  has 
no  thankfulness,  I  have.  But  for  you  my  success  in  restoring 
Zunega  to  his  rights  would  be  out  of  the  question.     There  are 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  141 

Other  ways  than  words  by  which  to  show  appreciation.  Is 
there  no  manner  in  which  I  can  communicate  with  you  to  tell 
you  if  Zuiiega  comes  into  his  own?" 

Faquita  hesitated. 

"  You  have  kindness,  sefior,"  she  said  finally.  "  Perhaps  a 
word  to  Benito  Sanchez  at  San  Juan  might  reach  me." 

"  The  word  shall  be  there,"  he  promised.     "  AJios !" 

"  Vaya  J',  con  Dios,  scnor,"  she  said  as  he  took  his  seat  in 
the  saddle. 

The  line  of  horsemen  filed  away. 

Annizae  glanced  back  over  her  shoulder.  Faquita  still 
leaned  against  the  shrine.  Annizae  pulled  up  her  horse. 
She  scarcely  could  believe  that  this  woman  riding  away  with 
strangers  was  herself.  She  felt  an  almost  irresistible  inclina- 
tion to  wheel,  ride  back  for  Faquita,  and  then  fly  into  the  re- 
treats of  the  forest  away  from  this  temptation.  But  the  hand 
of  the  American  was  on  her  horse's  bridle.  On  his  features 
was  a  smile  of  comprehension. 

"  The  forest  may  know  you  again,  Annizae,"  he  said,  "  but 
not  now." 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Anniz.\e  was  established  at  the  coffee  plantation  and,  though 
she  was  ignorant  of  the  fact,  was  well  guarded.  This  entree 
once  again  into  a  home  was  not  without  its  charm  to  the  wo- 
man, though  she  was  reminded  of  earlier  days  in  a  manner 
that  was  distressing.  She  was  moody  and  ill  content,  and 
Lithgow  perceived  that  he  must  lose  no  time  in  getting  to 
Havana. 

But  the  elation  which  he  would  have  expected  to  experi- 
ence in  connection  with  his  success  was  wholly  lacking.  lie 
was  conscious  of  an  absolute  pain  with  the  thought  that  he 
could  count  the  hours  that  remained  for  him  of  this  Jolce-far- 
nientc  life. 

He  had  one  more  day  only.  He  shook  his  head  at  his  own 
reflection  that  morning  as  he  shaved  himself. 

"  I  suspect  that  it  is  a  lucky  thing  that  you've  got  to  go,  my 
boy,"  he  remarked.  "  It  would  be  scarcely  permissible  to 
snatch  the  girl  from  her  elderly  suitor  and  take  her  to  America 


142  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

to  present  to  Beatrice ;  yet  I  believe  that  is  the  suggestion 
which  has  come  to  you  in  the  disguise  of  a  noble  action." 

He  rode  over  to  La  Sacra  Sonrisa  with  M.  Theuriet  in  the 
afternoon.  They  were  to  dine  with  the  sugar  planter  and 
return  home  early,  as  the  start  was  to  be  made  before  day- 
break. 

That  subtle  sadness  of  the  south  was  in  the  air.  It  weighed 
upon  his  heart.  With  a  pang  of  genuine  reproach  Lithgow 
realized  that  in  leaving  Beatrice  behind  him  unwed,  he  had 
not  suffered  the  heaviness  of  soul  which  encompassed  him 
now. 

"  It  is  because  I  know  what  lies  in  store  for  Raquel,"  he  told 
himself  excusingly.  "  None  could  fail  to  be  moved  by  the 
contemplation  of  such  a  sacrifice." 

He  was  hoping  for  an  opportunity  to  have  a  word  alone 
with  her,  but  there  appeared  to  be  little  prospect.  He  had  not 
seen  her  since  the  night  of  the  contradanza.  Covertly  he 
watched  to  see  if  any  remembrance  of  it  lay  in  her  manner. 
When  he  failed  to  detect  any  he  caught  himself  wondering  if 
he  had  dreamed  that  thrilling  clasp  of  the  hand. 

"  She  is  not  the  child  that  I  thought,"  he  commented  si- 
lently. "  She  has  the  power  of  concealment."  And,  manlike, 
he  became  more  anxious  to  peer  beneath  the  surface  which 
Raquel  had  succeeded  in  making  appear  so  unruffled. 

Both  she  and  her  father  were  exceedingly  interested  in 
hearing  the  full  account  of  the  meeting  with  Annizae.  When 
Lithgow  declared  that  in  his  own  mind  he  was  convinced  that 
Zuiiega  was  the  long-sought  heir  to  Harberton  Towers,  Ra- 
quel voiced  the  most  exuberant  gladness  and  inspired  the 
others  with  her  enthusiasm. 

"  Will  he  have  much  money,  senor?"  she  queried. 

"Money  to  burn,  I  fancy,"  he  replied,  "though  I  am  not 
certain  as  to  the  extent  of  the  estate." 

"  Why,  Raquel?"  asked  her  father.     "  What  is  it  to  you?" 

"  Nothing,  of  course,"  she  returned.  "  I  simply  felt  some 
wonderment  as  to  what  use  he  would  make  of  it.  He  never 
has  had  money;  it  will  seem  strange  to  him." 

Her  father  laughed. 

"  You  speak  as  with  the  familiarity  of  long  acquaintance," 
he  told  her  teasingly. 

"  Sometimes  with  the  acquaintance  of  a  day  friendships  are 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  143 

formed  more  strong  and  enduring  than  those  wliich  have  been 
years  in  growth,"  Lithgow  observed,  speaking  to  Palgrave 
but  looking  at  Raquel. 

He  was  rewarded  by  a  glance  from  her,  one  that  led  him 
to  add : 

"  I  hope  ours  will  prove  such." 

"  Thank  you,"  smiled  the  Englishman.  "  Why  should  it  not? 
You  are  our  liantasse,  remember!  I  trust  that  you  will  come 
down  to  see  our  friend  Thcuriet  here  every  season." 

"  I  am  afraid  that  luck  like  this  will  not  fall  my  way 
again,"  Lithgow  replied  regretfully.  "In  all  probability  I 
shall  not  see  Cuba's  shores  for  many  years."  He  was  watch- 
ing Raquel's  face.  -  He  saw  it  change.  A  warm  glow  crept 
through  his  heart.  Faithful  or  unfaithful,  the  man  does  not 
live  who  does  not  feel  gratified  to  learn  that  his  comings  or 
goings  are  no  longer  a  matter  of  utter  indifference  to  a  beau- 
tiful woman. 

"Who  knows  what  may  have  befallen  us  before  then?" 
mused  the  sugar  planter.  "  These  walls  may  encircle  other 
faces  than  ours  by  that  time,  Raquel !  La  Sacra  Sonrisa  may 
have  another  master." 

"  It  never  shall  have  other  master  than  you,  papa  into" 
Raquel  said,  with  a  significance  that  he  did  not  perceive. 

"  That  is  woman's  hopefulness,"  smiled  her  father,  reaching 
out  his  hand  to  touch  her  dark,  insubordinate  hair  with  ten- 
der fingers.  "  After  all,  I  shall  care  little  what  fortune  comes 
so  long  as  I  have  you.  My  late  hoiirs  of  torture  have  taught 
me  that,  querida  mia." 

"  And  they  taught  me  the  identical  lesson,"  she  replied, 
turning  her  face  upward  with  a  resolve  written  upon  it  that 
it  turned  Lithgow's  heart  cold  to  see.  "  Nothing  is  of  any 
value  to  me  except  you  and  your  happiness." 

"  Ah,  saw  you  ever  such  devotion?"  cried  the  man  to  his 
friends.  And  they  observed  that  tears  were  in  his  eyes.  "  We 
owe  that  scoundrel,  Alarcon,  something  after  all.  He  re- 
vealed to  each  the  worth  of  the  other,  eh?  I  will  be  worthy 
of  your  affection,  sweetheart;  the  plantation  shall  be  held  if 
wits  and  energy  can  do  it.  If  not,  we  will  shoulder  our  traps 
and  move  on.     'While  there  is  life,  there  is  hope' !" 

"  But  it  would  kill  you  to  relinquish  this  place,"  sighed 
Raquel,  with  her  eyes  on  his  face. 


144  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  Almost,  not  quite,"  he  admitted.  "  I  love  it  for  many  rea- 
sons. It  was  here  that  I  brought  your  mother.  The  few 
years  that  were  ours  together  were  spent  here,  and  they  were 
the  happiest  of  my  life.  I  pray  that  as  happy  ones  will  come 
to  you." 

Raquel's  eyelids  quivered  and  fell.  A  great  wave  of  blood 
swept  up  over  her  face,  then  ebbed,  leaving  her  a  deathly 
white.  She  leaned  back  in  the  deep  rocking-chair.  Only 
Lithgow  noticed  that  her  fingers  were  clasped  convulsively 
in  her  lap. 

"  I  shall  be  happy,"  she  said  slowly  and  distinctly,  but  the 
voice  did  not  sound  like  her  own.  All  of  the  caressing  music 
and  soft  cadences  seemed  to  have  died  out  of  its  tones.  "  I 
am  going  to  marry  monsieur,  paj>a  mio.  You  and  I  never  will 
be  separated." 

Lithgow  could  not  have  moved  if  his  life  had  depended 
upon  it.  He  felt  as  if  every  portion  of  his  physical  mechan- 
ism gave  way  with  a  sickening  sensation  that  made  his  eyes 
blur  and  his  brain  reel.  He  saw  the  master  of  La  Sacra 
Sonrisa  lean  toward  his  daughter  with  unmitigated  astonish- 
ment on  his  features. 

"  Marry — M.  Theuriet?"  he  repeated  dazedly.  "  Has  he 
dared  to — to  ask — you?"  He  now  was  on  his  feet  and  advanc- 
ing threateningly  toward  his  neighbor  of  years.  Rage, 
wounded  honor,  all  the  passion  of  a  father's  love  was  in  his 
manner.  M.  Theuriet  shrank  perceptibly  before  him,  though 
he  had  risen  also  and  stood  with  his  arms  folded. 

"  You  have  betrayed  the  fact  of  that  despicable  contract," 
accused  Gilbert  Palgrave  in  the  voice  that  only  an  aroused 
Englishman  can  assume.  "  I  relied  on  your  honor  as  a  man 
never  to  reveal  it.  Nothing  but  the  horrible  circumstances 
forced  me  into  it,  and  you  know  it." 

"  Pardon,  mon  ami,  ze  contract  has  not  been  mentioned,"  dc' 
clared  the  Frenchman.  "  I  believ'  zat  ze  seiiorita  knows  not 
of  eets  exeestence.  I  hav'  asked  her  to  be  my  wife.  What 
more  or  what  less  can  a  man  do  when  he  loves  a  woman? 
Eef  she  consents  not,  eet  ees  my  loss.  Eef  you  pairmit  her  to 
accept  me,  my  love,  and  my  fortune,  neither  you  nor  she  ever 
shall  regret  eet,  as  le  ban  Dicii  loves  us  all !" 

Gilbert  Palgrave  paused  irresolutely.  He  looked  from  M. 
Theuriet  back  at  Raquel.     He  could  not  doubt  the  French- 


A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA.  145 

man's  words,  yet  he  felt  that  he  also  must  hear  from  Raquers 
lips  that  no  mention  of  the  unfortunate  contract  had  been 
made  to  urge  her  into  this  inexplicable  acceptance  of  the 
aged  neighbor's  suit. 

"What  has  led  you  to  make  this  decision,  Raquel?"  he  de- 
manded. 

There  was  a  little  fright  in  her  eyes  as  she  looked  up  for 
the  first  time.  She  glanced  appealingly  at  M.  Theuriet. 
Would  he  not  help  her  to  keep  from  divulging  the  real  reason? 

She  knew  that  to  reveal  it  would  be  to  forfeit  this  oppor- 
tunity of  placing  her  father  on  his  feet  financially;  for  if  he 
divined  that  she  was  making  a  sacrifice  he  would  lose  both 
estate  and  life  before  he  would  allow  it. 

"  I  hav'  offaired  her  ze  delights  ov  Havanese  society,  ze  fas- 
cinations ov  travel,  ze  gratification  ov  all  her  desires,"  inter- 
posed the  Frenchman  quietly.  "  Pairhaps  zose  hav'  influ- 
enced her.  She  loves  me  not  now,  I  am  ^ware  ov  zat.  But  I 
hop'  to  mak'  her  feel  affection  for  irie,  mon  ami,  wiz  your 
pairmission." 

"  Is  it  true,  Raquel?"  questioned  Palgrave  anxiously.  "Do 
these  promised  things  make  you  content  to  marry  this  man 
who  is  old  enough  to  be  your  father?" 

Raquel  dared  not  lift  her  lids.  She  was  afraid  that  he 
would  read  the  truth.  She  went  toward  him  swiftly  and  hid 
her  face  against  his  breast, 

"  I  wish  to  marry  monsieur,"  she  said  faintly,  "  if  you  have 
no  objections." 

Palgrave  lifted  her  face  and  looked  into  it  searchingly,  but 
the  horror  which  the  closed  lids  shielded  did  not  reacii  his 
troubled  heart. 

"I  should  have  mountainous  objections  if  I  thought  that 
my  fears  were  true,"  he  answered,  "  but  if  you  really  desire  to 
become  the  wife  of  our  life-time  friend,  it  is  not  for  me  to 
interfere.  I  don't  know  as  a  better  man  could  be  found  any- 
where, or  one  who  would  make  a  kinder  husband.  He  can- 
not take  it  amiss  if  I  confess  that  I  had  desired  a  younger 
mate  for  you,  one  more  in  keeping  with  your  own  youth  ful- 
ness. You  have  seen  nothing  of  the  world  yet,  cara  mia ;  it 
might  be  better  to  wait." 

"  You  speak  of  a  contract,"  she  reminded.     "  What  was  it?" 

Gilbert  Palgrave  hesitated.  He  was  much  averse  to  telling 
10 


146  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

her  its  conditions,  but  he  reasoned  quickly  that  it  might  be 
wiser  for  him  to  explain  the  matter  himself  than  to  permit  M. 
Theuriet  some  time  to  do  so. 

"  Simply  this,  dearest,"  he  began  with  a  long  breath,  "  in 
my  trouble,  M.  Theuriet  suggested  a  way  out  of  the  dilemma. 
He  offered  to  fiirnish  the  amount  of  the  ransom — you  under- 
stand that  I  was  utterly  unable  to  furnish  even  a  centavo  my- 
self— on  the  condition  that  I  gave  my  consent  that  you  should 
become  his  wife.  This  I  would  not  do;  but  finally  I  was 
forced,  when  Alarcon  came  demanding  the  gold,  to  send  for 
our  friend  and  tell  him  that  I  agreed  on  the  condition  that  you 
should  be  allowed  to  choose.  I  felt  certain  that  you  would 
refuse  to  comply  with  his  request,  and,  in  that  case  I  would 
be  only  glad  to  forfeit  everything  and  start  out  fresh  in  life 
on  some  other  basis  than  that  of  sugar  production.  We  could 
go  away  somewhere  and  live  in  a  meagre  way.  All  I  was 
anxious  about  was  you ;  you  are  so — so  dissatisfied,  I  feared 
you  might  weary  of  poverty."  He  felt  his  daughter  cling 
tighter  to  him  and  he  went  on :  "  Then  the  opportunity  to  se- 
cure you  by  even  that  means  failed.  We  were  frantic.  Pos- 
sibly you  have  not  been  told,  but  Gonzalo  Alarcon  refused  the 
ransom  because  he  said  that  he  would  not  relinquish  you  to 
the  arms  of  a  rival  like  M.  Theuriet.  I  hope  you  compre- 
hend, Raquel,  that  it  was  only  the  terrible  position  in  which 
I  was  placed  that  made  me  contemplate  such  a  contract  with 
quietude.  As  it  was,  I  sought  to  make  it  one  that  would  be 
binding  only  to  me ;  you  were  to  be  free  to  follow  the  dictates 
of  your  heart.  Finally,  through  the  brave  action  of  that  one 
whom  you  call  Zufiega,  you  were  returned  without  any  ran- 
som, so  that  relieves  both  of  us  from  its  terms.  Were  you 
unaware  of  all  this?" 

"  Yes,  papa,"  she  nodded,  her  resolution  only  the  more 
firmly  fixed  in  her  mind.  Ignorant  of  life  save  as  she  knew  it 
from  books,  she  really  had  small  comprehension  of  all  that 
this  decision  actually  meant  to  her  future.  Moved  by  a  noble 
spirit  of  filial  love,  she  imagined  that  the  strong  uplifting  that 
she  experienced  at  this  moment  of  self-renunciation  would 
enable  her  to  bear  herself  through  all  the  suceeding  days. 

"  Then  nothing  influenced  you  in  this  decision  which  you 
have  given  M.  Theuriet?"  he  questioned. 

Raquel  not  once  had  permitted  her  glance  to  wander  in  the 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  M7 

•American's  direction.  Now,  however,  it  was  almost  as  if  his 
powerful,  keen  gaze  had  compelled  hers.  Beneath  her  lan- 
guorous lids  her  eyes  wavered.  She  read  in  his  that  he  had 
not  forgotten  the  night  when  their  hands  had  met  as  their 
eyes  met  now.  And  she  knew  that  he  now  discovered  that 
she  also  remembered.  Nothing  had  influenced  her?  She 
was  ashamed  to  feel  how  the  careless  words  of  this  northerner 
uttered  a  few  moments  previous  had  made  her  present  deci- 
sion possible  and  in  her  mind  half  necessary.  He  was  going 
away.  Neither  she  nor  Cuba  might  see  him  again.  What 
more  was  left  to  life  save  this  sacrifice,  which  would  benefit 
her  father  more  than  any  other  thing  on  earth — except  Cuba's 
freedom — could?  And  the  American  should  know  that  he 
was  nothing  to  her.  This  declaration  of  her  acceptance  of 
M.  Theuriet  would  prove  to  him  that  the  startling  revelation 
which  had  borne  itself  in  upon  her  with  such  force,  that  rare 
moment  in  the  moonlight  when  the  subtle  frenzy  of  the  music 
pulsed  through  her  veins,  had  been  unwelcome. 

She  managed  to  tear  her  eyes  away  from  the  magnetic  ones 
of  Lithgow  before  she  answered  her  father  gently,  in  a  way 
with  which  he  was  forced  to  feign  content : 

"  Nothing  has  influenced  me — except  love — for  you,"  and 
the  fact  that  the  last  two  words  were  inaudible  to  any  but  her 
own  soul  made  her  reply  something  surprising  to  M.  Theuriet 
as  well  as  to  the  father. 

The  accepted  suitor  moved  toward  her  in  a  reverential 
manner  that  did  him  credit.  He  bowed  his  gray  head  over 
Raquel's  cold  fingers  with  a  murmur  of  joy  to  which  she  gave 
no  heed.  She  was  aware  only  of  the  American's  set  mouth 
and  stern  eyes,  and  she  was  woman  enough  to  take  a  certain 
pride  in  her  sad  triumph. 

"  Seiior,  you  do  not  congratulate  me,"  observed  M.  Theuriet. 
smiling,  rejoicing  because  of  the  unexpected  tact  with  which 
Raquel  had  engineered  the  announcement.  Despite  his 
anxiety  to  secure  Raquel.  he  had  experienced  some  trepida- 
tion concerning  the  manner  with  which  Gilbert  Palgrave 
would  receive  the  news.  The  girl's  care  to  keep  the  true  rea- 
son for  her  decision  from  her  father  did  not  ofi"end  the  French- 
man. It  simply  made  him  commend  himself  for  his  astute- 
ness in  reading  her  character  aright. 

Lithgow  arose  to  his  feet  and  bowed  gravely.    Fiercely  he 


148  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

\Vas  cDhdelnning  the  conventionalities  of  life.  lii  the  knightly 
days  it  would  have  been  quite  jjefmissible  to  seize  this  niaiden 
and  ride  away  with  her  to  safety  and  to  love ;  but  in  this  end 
of  the  century  nothing  remained  but  to  shake  her  aged  lover 
by  the  hand  and  wish  him  the  good  that  the  gods  provide. 

"  I  have  the  watmest  desires  for  the  happiness  of  both  of 
you,"  he  contrived  to  say;  "  the  celebration  of  your  betrothal 
brings  my  visit  to  a  more  joyflil  close  than  I  had  anticipated. 
Seiiorita  Raquel  honors  me  by  announcing  it  in  iny  presehce." 

He  made  his  exit  into  the  court  gracefully,  as  if  he  deemed 
it  the  most  natural  thing  that  they  should  be  left  alone. 
There  he  stood  very  still.  He  inwardly  felt  like  uprooting 
every  growing  thing  in  the  place,  but  he  remained  as  calm  a& 
one  ihUst  in  this  age  of  self-repression.  Gilbert  Palgrave 
came  out  to  hirti  there,  after  having  taken  Raquel  in  his  arms 
to  wish  her  all  of  the  joy  that  possibly  can  come  to  mortal. 
The  sugar  planter  offered  him  a  cigar  and  lighted  himself  one. 
Lithgow  debated  within  himself  whether  silence  was  the  hon- 
orable course  to  pursue. 

"  I  wonder  if  a  man  ever  learns  to  iindetstand  women,"  Pal- 
grave  said  half  to  himself.  "  How  that  child  can  rharry 
Theuriet,  though  I  must  confess  that  I  like  him  well  enough 
myself,  is  beyond  my  comprehensioii!" 

Before  Lithgow  could  answer,  Raquel's  voice  was  at  his 
elbow.  She  seemed  to  be  afraid  that  he  might  betray  her. 
He  understood  her  When  she  said : 

"  Your  hours  with  us  are  to  be  so  few  that  I  do  not  mean 
to  be  deprived  of  any  of  them,  setior." 

"  That  is  right,"  cried  her  father.  "  We  have  dubious  days 
in  store,  but  let  u5  banish  them  while  we  may." 

Lithgow  felt  that  he  never  should  forget  the  awkwatdness 
of  thit  otherwise  delightful  dinner  which  consumed  the  re- 
mainder of  the  afternoon.  He  was  fconscioUS  that  his  own 
manner  had  taken  on  an  air  of  restraint,  and  he  could  see  that 
Raquel's  had  also.  They  talked  at  each  other  as  if  miles  in- 
tervened ;  and  all  the  while  each  counted  the  minutes  which 
were  drifting  dreamily  away.  Under  the  spur  of  his  happi- 
tiess  Theuriet  became  very  talkative,  and  even  went  so  far  as 
to  plan  the  little  journeys  into  the  outer  world  with  which  he 
hoped  to  buy  Raquel's  love.  Lithgow  was  very  quiet.  Once 
he  said : 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  1 49 

"And  you  will  coine  as  far  north  as  New  York,  of  course." 

"  Cictiamcnte,"  agreed  the  Frenchman,  feeling  that  nothing 
was  too  much  to  promise  on  this  occasion.  "  In  zat  way  we 
may  hav'  ze  plaisir  ov  seeing  you  again,  eef  you  come  not 
more  to  Cuba." 

To  Lithgow  there  was  something  gruesome  in  this  familiar 
manner  in  which  the  prospective  bridegroom  spoke  of  himself 
and  Raquel  as  "  we."  He  found  himself  objecting  to  it  silently 
again  and  again  during  the  course  of  the  afternoon.  And  he 
smiled  at  himself  with  mingled  amusement  and  reproach  as 
he  realized  how  completely  he  was  making  this  girl's  troubles 
and  sorrows  his  own.  He  fashioned  to  himself  the  coniments 
■which  Beatrice  would  give,  providing  that  he  ever  m<^de  her 
his  father  confessor  in  this  affair  as  he  had  in  others.  But  in 
his  heart  he  knew  that  the  thoughts  which  he  entertained  to- 
ward this  unsophisticated  maiden  of  a  sugar  plantation  were 
such  a,s  would  be  locked  up  securely  forever. 

When,  just  a  short  time  before  the  hour  for  departure,  he 
suddenly  discovered  that  both  of  the  planters  had  withdrawn 
for  a  moment  and  he  was  alone  with  her,  he  became  afraid  of 
himself. 

"  Be  careful,  my  boy,"  he  cautioned.  "It  is  better  to  say 
nothing  than  to  say  that  which  were  better  unsaid." 

The  silence  between  them  grew  full  of  meaning.  To  break 
it  he  ventured  finally: 

"  You  soon  will  become  of  the  larger  life  of  the  world,  sen- 
orita.  Your  dreaming  will  be  past.  It  will  be  as  if  you  had 
drifted  from  some  shady,  quiet  river-cove  out  into  the  tem- 
pestuous waters  of  the  sea.  Your  course  will  be  crossed  by 
crafts  from  other  ports.  You  will  speak  them  and  go  on  your 
way  wiser,  possibly  happier." 

Raquel  sat  dipping  her  finger-tips  tlionghtfully  into  the 
water  of  the  old  fountain.  She  was  thinking  what  the  days 
would  be  like,  when  this  man  with  his  comjianionablc  ways 
was  gone.  She  had  had  a  foretaste  of  them  during  the  short 
time  he  had  been  away  in  his  search  for  Annizae.  And  the 
American  was  telling  himself  that  the  curves  of  the  girl's 
lovely  lips  had  grown  firmer,  the  eyelids  heavier,  the  oval 
face  paler. 

"  You  are  a  craft  from  another  port,"  she  remarked  in  a  low 
tone. 


15°  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

"  Yes,  the  first,  but  not  the  last,"  he  assented,  loosening  the 
curb  a  little.  "  There  will  be  many.  I  only  pray  that  one 
will  not  come  whose  course  you  will  wish  to  make  your  own — 
but  cannot  because  of  the  one  you  have  chosen  to-day." 

"  You  are  unkind,  seiior,"  she  said  coldly. 

"  I  do  not  mean  to  be,"  he  returned  gently.  "  I  think  you 
are  unkind  to  yourself.  I  am  torn  by  conflicting  desires;  to 
tell  your  father  of  the  mistake  you  are  making;  to  do  as  you 
appear  to  wish  me  to  do — keep  silent." 

"  It  would  be  cruel  to  both  of  us  to  tell  him,"  she  declared. 
"  Here  is  my  opportunity  to  make  my  life  worth  something." 

"I  fail  to  see  it  in  that  way."  Lithgow  shook  his  head. 
"  You  are  throwing  it  away,  from  my  point  of  view." 

"  If  throwing  it  away  benefits  another,  will  that  not  be 
well?"  she  asked.  "Lives  are  wasted  yearly  in  famine,  pes- 
tilence, war.  I  should  count  myself  happy  if  I  might  lose  life 
in  fighting  for  Cuba.  Is  it  less  noble  to — die  daily  through 
long  years?" 

"  But,  child,  it  is  unnecessary,"  he  cried  despairingly.  "  You 
feel  capable  of  it  now,  but  you  don't  begin  to  know  what  you 
are  talking  about.  And  the  years  are  so  long  when  one  lives 
them." 

"  What  is  life,  after  all?"  she  murmured  wearily. 

"  Something  that  most  of  us  willingly  would  relinquish  if 
we  knew  just  what  lay  beyond,"  he  answered.  "  When  all  is 
said,  it  is  true  that  there  does  not  seem  to  be  much  use  in  liv- 
ing. The  individual  appears  to  count  for  little  save  in  iso- 
lated cases,  where  a  rare  soul  makes  itself  felt  in  work  for  its 
race.  My  life,  for  instance,  has  never  been  worth  anything, 
even  to  myself.  I  struggle,  achieve  a  trifle,  suffer,  enjoy — 
and  for  what?  I  benefit  no  one  in  particular.  My  only  bat- 
tlefield is  myself,  and  even  on  that  arena  I  fear  that  I  do  not 
fight  very  valiantly." 

"You  have  benefited  )ne,  seiior,"  she  affirmed  quietly, 
"  this  moment." 

"  How?"  he  queried  with  surprise. 

"  You  say  that  even  you,  a  man  with  a  man's  splendid 
chances — benefit  no  one,  that  all  your  efforts  are  for  naught. 
Should  I  not  then  more  joyfully  embrace  this  which  will  make 
my  battling  not  wholly  worthless  and  without  fruit?  No  doubt 
I  always  will  war,  if  not  for  Cuba,  then  against  existing  con- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  151 

ditions;  it  seems  to  be  my  nature.  As  it  now  is,  the  battle 
simply  will  be  the  silent  one  between  my  two  selves:  the  new, 
subdued  one,  burdened  with  the  sense  of  debt  and  duty,  which 
has  betrothed  itself ;  and  the  old  one,  restless,  ambitious,  de- 
termined to  do,  not  simply  to  be." 

"  Which  self  do  you  fancy  will  win?"  Lithgow  was  very 
earnest. 

"  Ah,  who  knows?"  she  breathed.  "  Might  not  the  contend- 
ing forces  wear  the  battlefield  out? — make  a  wreck  of  it?" 

"  They  would  be  likely  to  leave  irremediable  evidences  of 
the  merciless  ravages  of  war,"  warned  he.  "  Many  faces  bear 
witness  to  such  concealed  struggles.  It  grieves  me  that 
yours  is  to  be  of  the  number." 

He  arose  and  began  moving  about  the  court  restlessly, 
hands  behind  him.  Words  rushed  to  his  tongue.  He  shut 
them  back  resolutely.  Something— some  other  calmer  self — 
seemed  to  be  comparing  this  moment  with  that  one  in  Bea- 
trice's studio,  when  he  had  asked  her  to  be  his  wife.  He  had 
felt  timid  then,  a  little  doubtful,  but  no  such  wild  emotions 
had  warred  within  him  as  these,  which  threatened  to  leap  up 
volcano-like  and  rush  with  dangerous  force  outward  in  a  glow 
of  burning  speech.  At  last  he  brought  himself  to  a  pause  in 
front  of  Raquel. 

"  Shall  you  care  to  hear  if  Zuiiega  gets  his  rights?"  he 
asked. 

Eagerness  once  more  shot  up  into  her  face. 

"  If  I  may,"  she  answered.  "  None  could  be  more  interested 
than  I.     Will  you  tell  him  so?" 

"  With  pleasure,"  he  replied.  "  May  I  write  you — through 
your  father?" 

"  A  letter  from  the  outside  world !  You  cannot  dream  wliat 
that  would  be  to  me,"  was  her  answer,  given  without  looking 
at  him. 

Lithgow  knew  that  the  volcanic  fire  was  breaking  its 
bounds.  It  burned  in  his  eyes,  on  his  lips.  He  bent  his  head 
nearer  hers.  Only  the  palm  would  have  heard  the  next 
words,  but 

"  Ze  caballos  are  at  ze  entrance.  Monsieur  Hamilton." 

The  voice  of  M.  Theuriet  came  between  them  witli  the 
force  of  a  dynamite  bomb,  that  seemed  to  hurl  them  leagues 
apart. 


152  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA, 

"  Eet  ees  ze  saddest  part  ov  life  zat  adieus  must  be  spoken," 
the  voice  went  on,  "  but  you  will  veseet  Cuba  again,  let  us 
hop'.  And  you  will  find  ze  seiiorita  a  happy  wife,  eef  lov' 
and  devotion  can  make  her  so*  while  ze  happiest  man  in  ze 
island  will  be  su  segiiro  servidvr,  as  ze  Spaniards  say." 

"  You  have  hot  neglected  to  bring  me  the  book  you  prom- 
ised, I  hope,  sefior,"  Raquel  said  quietly,  ignoring  the  speech 
of  the  coffee  plantef.  In  the  knowledge  that  Lithgow  was 
going  to  leave  something  which  had  been  his,  there  was  a  con- 
solation that  nerved  her  to  witness  his  departure  with  a  face 
on  Which  was  mirrored  none  of  the  dread  that  her  soul  felt. 
He  was  only  too  well  aware  that  she  did  not  love  the  French- 
man, but  she  was  determined  that  he  should  not  read  to  what 
depths  he  had  stirred  her  nature  in  these  brief  days  during 
which  their  lives  had  touched. 

"  I  had  not  forgotten."  Lithgow  took  it  from  his  pocket  and 
placed  it  in  her  hahd;  "  I  prefer  not  to  say  'good-by.'  Life 
is  long  and  the  world  is  small.  We  may  meet  again ;  until 
then,  permit  me  to  speak  as  you  Cubans  do :  God  walk  with 
you! ' 

He  shook  hands  with  Gilbert  Palgrave,  then  mounted,  and 
by  the  side  of  M.  Theuriet  rode  in  the  direction  of  La  Buena 
Esperanza.  Before  out  of  sight  of  the  white  walls  he  halted, 
turned,  and  lifted  his  hat. 

Raquel  still  stood  in  the  entrance. 

The  purpling  shadows  crept  stealthily  up  over  the  moun- 
tains, weaving  with  mystic  touch  the  web  of  darkness.  The 
sword-thrusts  of  the  morrow's  sun  would  make  a  nothing 
of  this  heavy  Veil  of  night,  but  she  knew  tha,t  no  morrow 
would  lift  the  shadow  which  now  lay  upon  all  her  days  to 
come. 

The  great  golden  moon  rose  grandly  over  the  forest. 

She  went  slowly  back  into  the  empty  court.  She  held  the 
book  tightly  against  her.  She  put  one  arm  around  the 
staunch  old  palm  tree  and  laid  her  face  against  it,  as  she  had 
done  on  one  other  occasion.  Then  her  heart  had  been  rebel- 
liously  eager  to  live;  now  it  shuddered  at  the  thought  of  what 
life  held.  Then  queries  had  been  on  her  lips;  iiow  there  was 
only  the  silence  of  the  anguish  which  knows  that  it  will  con- 
tinue to  live  and  wonders  how  it  can. 

Tears  were  on  her  cheeks.     They  fell  on  the  gray  coat  of 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  1 53 

the  palm.     Far  above    the  green  plumes  quivered,  and  the 
night  winds  heard  them  murmur: 

"  We  of  the  green  fire  have  storms  that  bend  our  heads  and 
drive  our  roots  deeper  for  nourishment  and  larger  growth, 
you  of  the  red  fire  have  sorrows.  Only  thus  attain  you  the  full 
stature  of  that  soul  called  Man." 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

When  day  broke  over  Cuba,  Lithgow  and  Annizae,  in  the 
depths  of  M.  Theurlet's  volante,  Were  well  ort  their  way  to 
Taguayabon,  from  which  point  the  coffee  planter's  conveyance 
was  to  be  returned  to  La  Buena  Esperanza. 

Lithgow  contemplated  taking  from  Taguayabon  a  train  to 
S.  Juan  de  los  Remedios  and  from  there  to  the  port  of  Cai- 
barien,  providing  that  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  find  that  the 
railroad  officials  had  the  intention  of  running  a  train  that  day 
or  the  next.  He  had  no  doubt  that  he  could  secure  transpor- 
tation through  the  interior,  but  he  Was  not  certain  enough  of 
Annizae  to  feel  that  it  was  wise  to  adopt  such  a  method.  On 
the  railroad  and  on  the  Steamer  to  Havana  she  would  be  in 
his  hands;  she  would  have  no  opportunity  of  escape  should 
she  alter  her  rtiind.  In  the  interior*  who  knew  what  might 
befall?  It  w^as  well  to  be  Dut  of  the  reach  of  Guhzalo  Alarcon 
as  quickly  as  possible. 

Annizae  asked  no  questions,  though  her  mind  was  filled  to 
overflowing  with  queries  concerning  the  future.  She  aj)- 
peared  to  be  not  Wholly  without  suspicion,  for  she  was  very 
much  alert  and  watched  studiously  the  couhtry  through  which 
they  passed.  She  was  not  without  appreciation  of  the  indu- 
bitable comforts  of  this  ride  in  the  volante,  however;  perhaps 
it  seemed  to  her  a  sort  of  surety  of  the  greater  luxuries  which 
awaited  her  in  the  land  where  her  rival  had  died. 

Little  by  little  the  mountainous  district  slipped  back  of 
them.  They  advanced  into  a  section  given  up  entirely  to  the 
cultivation  of  cane.  Acres  upon  acres  of  gleaming  yellow 
stretched  along  their  route. 

The  postilion  allowed  the  horses  to  assume  a  walk.  At  the 
side  of  the   animal  harnessed  to  the  vehicle  paced  the  free 


154  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

horse,  who  evidently  enjoyed  his  supervision  of  his  mate  and 
keenly  appreciated  the  honor  of  bearing  on  his  back  the  gayly 
attired  individual  whose  duty  it  was  to  guide  him. 

Lithgow  endeavored  to  engage  Annizae  in  conversation,  but 
she  was  extremely  wary.  Her  accustomed  reticence  had  set- 
tled back  upon  her.  Not  until  she  saw  Zunega  with  her  own 
eyes  in  Havana  did  she  mean  to  believe  implicitly  in  the 
promises  held  out  by  this  stranger. 

She  derived  considerable  amusement  from  picturing  to 
herself  Alarcon's  unbounded  amazement  when  he  should  dis- 
cover that  she  returned  no  more  to  the  camp  of  which  she  had 
been  a  member  these  many  years.  He  would  think  that  she 
had  followed  Zuiiega.  Some  day  he  should  know  wh)'.  He 
would  be  more  astonished  then ;  for  she  would  return  to  Cuba 
with  evidences  of  her  rightful  position.  She  would  wear  the 
gowns,  the  jewels,  and  she  would  spend  the  gold  which  had 
belonged  to  the  woman  who  had  taken  her  place.  Those  who 
had  deemed  her  a  half-menial  should  learn  what  a  secret  it 
was  which  she  had  kept  with  unsmiling  lips.  A  laugh  was 
in  her  heart;  it  almost  crept  into  utterance.  Surely,  she 
could  laugh  again  when  she  had  achieved  her  full  triumph! 
Even  in  her  wildest  moments  of  hatred  she  never  had  dared 
to  think  of  such  a  victory  as  this.  It  seemed  to  grow  in  im- 
mensity as  she  viewed  it.  To  have  had  it  snatched  from  her 
now  would  have  been  the  most  bitter  of  all  punishments. 
Now  and  then  she  stole  a  glance  at  Lithgow  out  of  the  corners 
of  her  black  eyes.  She  had  no  thought  of  escaping  unless  she 
should  see  signs  of  deception  on  his  part.  She  realized  what 
a  risk  she  was  running.  She  might  be  going  to  life-long  im- 
prisonment. But  the  glamour  of  this  late  triumph  was  before 
her  mental  vision,  and  she  was  willing  to  venture  much  in  the 
hope  of  obtaining  it. 

Lithgow  interrogated  the  postilion  on  various  subjects  and 
had  quick  replies  flashed  back  at  him  over  Diego's  embroid- 
ered shoulder.  But  for  the  most  part  of  the  journey  he  occu- 
pied himself  with  thoughts  of  the  white  figure  which  he  had 
left  standing  alone  in  the  entrance.  He  had  noticed  that  her 
father  had  turned  off  toward  the  plantain  grove  after  their 
departure,  and  he  knew  that  Raquel  had  gone  back  to  the 
court  alone.  He  wondered  what  her  thoughts  had  been.  He 
scarcely  dared  face  his. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  155 

Dreamih'  he  fancied  Raquel  in  Annizae's  place.  Instinc- 
tively  he  knew  how  this  entire  scene  of  golden  monotony 
would  have  been  changed  to  a  fairyland,  through  which  he 
would  have  moved  in  a  delirium  of  joy. 

"  She  liked  me,"  he  said  reflectively.  "  I  was  new,  a  breath 
from  the  great  palpitating  world-life  which  she  longs  to  know  ; 
but — was  she  conscious  of  keener  feeling?  God  forgive  me  if 
I  awakened  a  suspicion  of  that  intense  passion  of  which  a 
nature  like  hers  is  capable !" 

The  day  deepened  into  noon  and  mellowed  again  into  those 
entrancing  hues  which  are  so  speedily  blent  into  the  star- 
gemmed  robe  of  night.  It  was  dark  when  Diego  drew  up  the 
horses  before  a  tienda  and  prepared  to  give  the  animals  food 
and  shelter. 

Lithgow  assisted  Annizae  to  alight  and  went  to  make  pro- 
visions for  their  own  comfort.  As  he  had  expected,  there  was 
no  likelihood  of  being  able  to  proceed  to  the  coast  under  one 
or  two  days. 

On  the  following  morning,  Diego  and  the  volante  wended 
their  course  back  to  the  coffee  plantation,  bearing  with  them 
a  letter  to  M.  Theuriet,  in  which  the  American  had  sought  to 
render  appreciation  of  the  Frenchman's  hospitality.  At  the 
close  of  the  communication  he  had  dared — after  considerable 
deliberation — to  add,  as  if  urged  by  sudden  recollection: 

"  I  neglected  to  call  the  attention  of  the  Senorita  Raquel  to 
some  favorite  passages  which  she  will  find  marked  in  the 
'Over-Soul.'  Will  you  have  the  great  kindness  to  ask  her  to 
glance  at  them?  Possibly  you  may  enjoy  reading  them  your- 
self, Monsieur  Theuriet." 

That  last  suggestion,  he  anticipated,  would  be  successful 
in  allaying  any  fears  which  his  late  host  might  entertain  in 
regard  to  the  mentioned  volume. 

Two  mornings  later,  the  boat  on  which  he  and  Annizae  had 
embarked  began  winding  its  way  through  the  cayos  (shoal- 
rocks)  which  dotted  the  waters  in  every  direction.  Emeralds 
sewn  into  the  intricate  embroidery  of  earth's  robe  of  beauty 
they  seemed,  strewn  with  a  lavish  hand. 

Cranes  and  curlews  could  be  detected  on  the  large  islands 
wading  about  among  the  mangrove  roots.  A  long  pink  line 
swept  across  the  sea  at  a  di.'^tance.  It  was  a  flock  of  flamin- 
goes, in  search  of  a  tempting  reef  on  which  they  could  station 


156  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

themselves  to  interfere  with  the  government's  fishing  inter 
ests,  as  is  their  wont. 

It  was  easy  to  see  why  smugglers  arid  pirates  reigned  for 
so  long-  in  these  regions. 

Annizae  hung  over  the  rail  in  a  maze.  The  marvellous 
marine  vegetation  was  new  to  her.  Never  had  she  been  out 
on  the  water,  save  on  the  memorable  occasion  when  she  had 
takers  the  first  move  toward  the  vengeance  which  had  brought 
her  the  satisfaction  she  now  was  hugging  joyously,  From 
under  the  hull  of  the  vessel  fiuuy  creatures  of  astonishing 
colors  shot  and  darted  a,bout  in  alarm,  diving  down  to  the 
coral  sand  as  though  to  startle  the  conchs  and  star-fish  lying 
motionless  and  untroubled  by  what  was  passing  on  the  sur- 
face. She  peered  down  through  the  clear,  green  waters  with 
a  qhildish  curiosity.  Never  once  did  her  interest  appear  to 
abate  until  they  reached  Matanzas  and  were  en  route  for 
Havana,  Then  she  lapsed  once  again  into  the  morose  wo- 
man that  her  confederates  had  known. 

Secretly  she  was  exceedingly  anxious. 

If  this  seiior  failed  to  produce  Zuuega,  what  was  best  to  do? 
She  contemplated  several  methods  of  escape.  She  did  not 
intend  to  be  caught  napping. 

Lithgow's  entrance  into  the  Hotel  Inglaterra  accompanied 
by  Annizae  excited  a  ripple  of  comment.  Her  bizarre  attire, 
her  defiant  dark  face,  her  Juno-like  proportions,  would  have 
attracted  notice  anywhere,  even  on  the  streets  of  cosmopoli- 
tan Havana.  The  American  saw  that  she  was  established  as 
luxuriously  as  was  possible  before  he  gave  a  thought  to  other 
matters.  He  was  relying  in  no  small  measure  on  the  long 
smothered  feminine  inclinations  of  her  heart,  and  he  catered 
to  these  as  best  he  knew  how,  in  the  hope  of  having  them  add 
their  silent  importunities  to  his  when  the  moment  came  for 
departure  from  Cuba,  He  took  the  precaution  to  place  her 
uuder  surveillance;  but.  of  this  fact  Annizae  was  not  aware. 
There  yet  remained  three  days  before  he  was  to  meet  Zufiega 
in  the  Campo  Santo.  He  anticipated  that  it  would  take  all 
of  that  time  for  him  to  make  the  arrangements  for  sailing. 
He  went  to  confer  with  the  consuls,  meaning  to  lose  no  mo- 
rnent  after  securing  Zuiiega,  for  a  ship  would  leave  the  harbor 
the  day  following. 

Now  that  he  was  back  amid  the  whirl  of  Havanese  life, 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  157 

wliich  he  had  left  only  a  month  previous,  his  strange  discov- 
ery of  the  heir  for  whom  Mr.  Bertram  Avas  so  anxious  seemed 
even  more  wonderful  than  it  had  on  the  plantation.  He 
found  himself  surprised  ^t  his  own  success.  The  elation 
which  had  been  absent  before  now  began  to  make  itself  ap- 
parent. He  concluded  iiot  to  telegraph  the  information,  but 
to  wait  and  take  the  lawyer  by  surprise.  In  that  way  he 
would  miss  none  of  the  excitement  which  would  pervade  Ber- 
tram's office  when  the  announcement  was  received,  an  excite, 
ment  which  he  felt  that  he  deserved  to  witness. 

At  the  hotel  he  found  ah  immense  amount  of  correspon- 
dence awaiting  him.  He  had  not  fully  realized  how  far  away 
from  Beatrice  his  thoughts  had  drifted  until  he  saw,  with 
something  of  a  start,  her  chirography  boldly  traced  across  two 
envelopes.  He  reserved  them  until  the  last.  They  were 
her  usual  bright,  chatty  letters,  relating  all  that  was  being 
done  and  said  in  their  world.  He  perused  them  ■»\rith  a  feeling 
as  if  he  had  been  long  separated  from  this  life  of  which  she 
spoke.  He  was  conscious  of  a  wave  of  regiet  that  he  must 
return  to  it.  That  soft,  narcotic  perfume  01  the  south  seemed 
to  have  crept  into  his  veins,  quieting  the  wearisome  energy 
with  which  his  blood  had  pounded  resisllessly  through  year 
after  yeat  of  business  life.  At  the  close  of  the  second  letter 
he  saw  written : 

"You  once  said,  Lithgow,  'It  is  well  to  have  a  master,  but 
it  is  far  better  to  have  slaves.'  To  that  I  append  this  recent 
discovery— it  is  better  to  have  a  friend.  Your  prophecy  has 
proven  true — I  do  miss  you." 

Lithgow  looked  down  at  the  cool  tiles  of  the  office  floor 
many  minutes  after  teading  that. 

"  When  Bee  says  a  thing  like  that  it  means  much,"  he  told 
himself  slowly.  "It  means  everything  almost— after  those 
words  in  the  studio." 

He  straightened  the  paper  out  and  read  the  lines  again. 
He  marvelled  vaguely  as  to  the  unstableness  of  the  hiiman 
blind.  He  recollected  that  the  mere  anticipation  of  such  an 
intimation  from  Beatrice  would  have  moved  him  to  gladness 
a  short  time  previous.  Now  he  accepted  it  in  a  dull,  leaden 
way  that  angered  him,  though,  to  have  saved  his  life,  he  ruuld 
feel  no  other  emotion. 

"  What  am  I?"  he  demanded  fiercely.    "  Am  I  no  better  than 


158  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

the  great  mass  of  men — carried  away  by  a  pair  of  wonderful 
eyes?  Have  I  no  strength  of  character?  My  love  for  Beatrice 
was  the  growth  of  years.  It  was  the  outcome  of  a  study  of 
her  nobility,  her  fitness  to  make  a  man  noble  himself.  Suiely 
it  can't  have  been  swept  away  by — by — this  which — by  the 
sight  of  Raquel's  trouble!  I  have  allowed  my  sympathies  to 
run  away  with  me !"  But  those  reflections  did  not  bring  back 
his  old  joy  in  Beatrice  nor  banish  the  constant  thought  of  the 
girl  at  La  Sacra  Sonrisa.  He  arose  with  the  most  bitter  dis- 
gust for  himself.  He  went  out  into  the  streets  to  escape  from 
the  accusations  of  his  mind.  He  joined  the  procession  of  feet 
that  made  a  continual  whispering  in  the  streets.  But  his 
thoughts  went  with  him.     They  said : 

"  What  if  you  had  given  utterance  to  that  which  was  in 
your  heart  and  on  your  very  lips  that  last  night  in  the  court?"' 

"I  a:n  a  scoundrel!"  he  declared  with  conviction,  "and 
nothing  but  M.  Theuriet's  entrance  at  that  moment  kept  me 
from  making  it  public !  In  another  instant  I  would  have  told 
Raquel  that  I  loved  her.  I  would  have  begged  her  to  fly  with 
me.  I  would  have  forgotten  Annizae,  Zuiiega,  everything 
but  that  which  burned  in  my  veins — and  burns  there  yet! — a 
fire  which  has  two  powers :  to  burn  away  the  old  and  leave 
the  world  like  new,  untried,  full  of  delightful  promise ;  or, 
never  satisfied,  unquenchable,  to  eat  into  the  heart  while  the 
years  pass  by  and  death  delays !" 

A  mounted  montero,  galloping  past  with  a  jingle  of  coins 
on  his  broad  sombrero,  would  have  swept  him  down  had  not 
a  muscular  arm  pulled  him  out  of  the  wa5^  while  a  voice  oddly 
familiar  in  its  caressing  cadences  said  amusedly : 

"  El  Americano  thinks  much,  but  sees  little." 

Lithgow  caught  his  rescuer  with  a  grasp  that  was  more  re- 
tentive than  was  necessary. 

"Zuiiega!"  he  exclaimed. 

"  Bieii,  am  I  he  whom  you  call  'Zuiiega'?"  demanded  the 
rescuer,  smiling. 

Lithgow  hesitated.  He  could  have  sworn  that  the  voice  was 
that  of  the  forest  lad,  but  as  he  studied  the  face  of  the  man  be- 
fore him  he  was  obliged  to  admit  that  he  might  be  mistaken. 

"  For  supuesto"  nodded  the  rescuer.  "  I  am  called  Manuel. 
Want  you  one  named  'Zuiiega,'  seiior?" 

"  Si,  si,  know  you  such  an  one?"  questioned  Lithgow. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CTBA.  159 

"  Es posible,"  admitted  the  man.     "  What  then,  senor?" 

"  Tell  him  that  the  Americano  is  here  in  Havana." 

"  Alone,  seiior?" 

Lithgow  regarded  the  interrogator  keenly,  but  the  meagre 
garb  of  a  dock  laborer  and  the  heavy  beard  which  he  wore 
convinced  the  American  that  his  suspicions  were  inaccurate. 

"  Not  alone,"  he  replied.  "  Tell  him  I  bring  the  one  I  said 
I  would  bring." 

"  Muy  Incn,"  bowed  the  fellow,  with  that  indubitable  grace 
characterizing  all  Cubans.     "  If  I  know  such,  I  will  tell  him." 

Lithgow  went  on  his  way.  The  Cuban  watched  him  with 
a  peculiar  smile,  then  took  his  own  path  with  a  shrug  of  the 
shoulders,  but  it  was  a  satisfied  shrug. 

Havana  is  not  the  best  spot  in  the  world  in  which  to  seek  a 
season  of  introspection,  but  Lithgow  succeeded  fairly  well  in 
his  endeavor  to  understand  some  of  the  secret  working  of  the 
masculine  nature  as  revealed  in  his  own  experience.  It  was 
an  edifying  task,  but  not  a  particularly  enjoyable  one.  Right 
in  the  middle  of  a  most  complete  summing  up  of  the  whole 
matter  he  would  discover  that  his  mind  had  wandered  tru- 
antly  to  the  fragrant  court.  He  relived  the  few  days  in 
which  he  had  known  Raquel  and  then  relived  them  again, 
until,  finally,  in  sheer  desperation,  he  said  as  he  had  said  once 
before :  "  It  is  only  for  this  moment,  this  one  moment  out  of 
life.  I  will  feed  upon  it  while  it  lasts.  None  shall  know  of 
the  poison  which  it  leaves  in  my  blood." 

Annizae  was  not  left  wholly  to  her  own  reflections  during 
those  days.  She  was  given  a  taste  of  gay  life  which  had 
never  been  hers  before,  and  she  evidenced  plainly  that  it  was 
not  disagreeable.  The  festivities  at  night  were  what  de- 
lighted her  most,  though  her  immobile  countenance  never  re- 
vealed the  fact  to  Lithgow.  In  her  own  mind  she  determined 
to  return  to  Havana  as  soon  as  the  possessions  of  her  rival  be- 
came hers.  Here,  with  such  finery,  .she  felt  that  she  could 
enjoy  herself  as  she  had  dreamed  of  doing  before  the  hope  of 
revenge  and  the  subsequent  forest  existence  were  hers. 

On  the  day  that  he  was  to  meet  Zuiicga,  Lithgow  took  An- 
nizae with  him  to  the  Campo  Santo. 

Zuiiega  was  not  at  the  rendezvous,  and  the  American  walked 
about  among  the  graves  with  a  sort  of  morbid  restlessness. 
The  little  stones  with  the  cross  at  the  head  looked  sphinx- 


t6o  a    daughter    of  CUBA. 

like.  What  mysteries  might  they  not  have  absorbed  from  the 
forms  that  they  covered?  They  appeared  more  fitting  for  the 
dead  than  the  more  impressive  tombs  and  monuments.  What 
more  emblematic  shaft  was  needed  than  the  palm,  type  of 
the  immortality  of  the  soul  which,  for  a  brief  time,  had  vital- 
ized the  crumbling  material  once  more  returning  to  nature! 

Lithgow  watched  the  lizards  sleeping  in  the  sun.  They 
reminded  him  of  the  lizards  that  hid  in  the  fountain  in  the 
court.  Everything  seemed  to  carry  his  memory  back  there 
as  if  by  magic. 

Here  and  there  the  creeping,  thread-like  tendrils  of  the 
roots  had  thrust  themselves  upward  and  had  pushed  aside  even 
the  stoned,  or — had  some  ghostly  fingers  tried  to  raise  them? 

The  mystery  of  existence,  the  reason  for  being,  the  ulti- 
mate ending,  rose  in  one  mighty  question  before  him  there, 
where  nature  absorbed  the  tissues  which  once  had  drawn  their 
sustenance  from  her  voluptuous  breast  but  now  returned  to 
be  re-created  into  other  forms  of  life. 

"  Does  one  great  Mind  absorb  all  individualities  into  its 
perfect  Self,  as  nature  absorbs  all  personalities?"  he  wondered. 
"  Or,  is  there  an  unfailing  love  which  provides  other  lives  in 
which  can  be  worked  out  the  problems  over  which  we  labor 
and  falter  in  this? 

■'  Some  day,  though  far  apart,  both  Raquel  and  I  will  lie  in 
this  same  way,  hushed,  buried,  forgotten ;  and  all  of  the  pres- 
ent occupants  of  the  world  will  be  sharing  the  same  fate! 
How  simple  it  all  seems !  I  suppose  that  we  will  look  back 
on  this  stage  of  our  upward  journey  and  see  how  trivial  are 
the  sorrows,  how  ephemeral  the  delights,  of  these  senses, 
which  in  an  incredibly  short  time  sink  to  their  native  noth- 
ingness. What  was  I  in  previous  lives — if  such  there  be? 
Did  I  possess  Raquel?  Like  Yasodhara  and  Gautama,  we 
might  have  been  tigers  in  some  unremembered  cycle.     Now, 

"'Our  past  is  clean  forgot, 
Our  present  is  and  is  not, 
Our  future's  a  sealed  seed-plot, 
And  what  betwixt  them  are  we? 
We  who  say  as  we  go — 
"Strange  to  think  by  the  way. 
Whatever  there  is  to  know 
That  shall  we  know  some  day."'"' 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  i6r 

"  Buenos  diijs,  sc/lor." 

The  salutation  caused  him  to  turn  quickly.  He  found  that 
he  was  face  to  face  with  the  individual  who  had  called  him- 
self "  Manuel." 

"  Ah,  then  I  was  not  mistaken !"  exclaimed  Lithgow  with  a 
self-congratulatory  tone.     "  You  and  Zunega  are  one." 

"  How  knew  you  me  so  quickly,  senor?"  queried  Zuiiega, 
glancing  cautiously  about  them  and  espying  Annizae  in  the 
shade  of  a  tomb. 

"  By  your  voice,"  replied  Lithgow.  "  Why  did  you  not 
then  acknowledge  that  I  was  right.'" 

"  I  had  a  wish,  seiior,  to  learn  if  my  disguise  was  sufficient. 
If  you,  a  stranger,  knew  me  and  could  not  be  persuaded 
otherwise,  I  feared  that  those  of  Alarcon"s  friends  who  might 
have  been  notified  of  my  disappearance  would  recognize  me 
also." 

"  Alarcon?  Has  he  friends  in  this  city?"  questioned  the 
American. 

"  Ah,  seiior,  has  he  not?"  smiled  Zunega.  "  There  are  times 
when  he  spends  weeks  right  here  in  Havana;  but  the  guardia 
civile  know  him  not  as  the  bandit.  To  them  he  is  Senor 
Figueras.  One  word  from  Senor  Figueras  to  them  would  put 
them  on  the  lookout  for  me.  One  word  from  Gonzalo  Alarcon 
to  his  friends  would  also  place  pursuers  on  my  track.  I  have 
had  two  dangers  to  fear." 

"  You  are  well  disguised,"  complimented  Lithgow.  "  Had 
it  not  been  for  your  speech  I  never  should  have  thought  of 
recognizing  you  as  you  are.  Possibly  I  have  a  good  memory 
for  the  peculiarities  of  a  voice.  Every  voice  here  is  so  musi- 
cal that  each  leaves  a  strong  mental  impression.  You  per- 
ceive that  I  have  succeeded  in  bringing  Annizae." 

"  You  must  be  a  magician,  seiior,"  acknowledged  Zuiiega. 
"  Not  yet  has  she  seen  me.  Wait,  seiior;  let  me  discover  if 
her  eyes  are  wise." 

He  approached  her  stealthily,  appearing  suddenly  before 
her.  She  gave  a  start  of  surprise  but  remained  silent,  evi- 
dently seeing  in  him  only  a  stranger,  from  whose  presence  she 
shrank  without  wishing  it  to  appear  tliat  she  did  so.  When 
he  was  well  convinced  tliat  even  her  visual  sense  was  de- 
ceived, he  said  softly: 

"  Annizae?" 
II 


1 62  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

With  a  cry  of  delight  that  astonished  both  men  she  slipped 
down  at  his  feet  and  clasped  her  arms  around  his  body. 

"  Gracias  d  Dios  !  Gracias  d  Dios .'"  she  murmured,  with 
her  dark  face  upturned  to  study  his  features  better.  "  It  is 
thou — no?" 

It  was  the  first  time  in  his  life  that  Zufiega  recalled  the 
faintest  show  of  affection  on  her  part,  and  he  was  amazed  and 
touched  by  it.  He  had  known  her  only  as  a  seemingly  cal- 
lous woman.  Motherly  tenderness  he  had  not  missed,  because 
he  never  had  been  acquainted  with  it,  so  far  as  he  remem- 
bered. That  Annizae  had  been  derelict  in  maternal  emotions 
and  cares  never  had  been  brought  to  his  notice.  Resentment 
had  arisen  in  his  heart  against  her  since  he  had  learned  of  the 
injury  she  had  done  him,  but  it  melted  beneath  this  unex- 
pected exhibition  of  remorse  on  her  part.  It  was  not  remorse, 
however.  It  was  gladness  to  find  that  he  was  safe  and  that 
the  words  of  the  American  thus  far,  at  least,  had  proven  true. 
The  possibility  of  Zuiiega's  wrath  had  not  yet  occurred  to 
her.  It  was  not  for  his  sake  that  she  was  willing  to  undertake 
this  journey  across  the  waters;  it  was  for  the  joy  of  her  final 
victory. 

Zufiega  drew  himself  away  from  her  grasp. 

Lithgow  approached. 

"  Annizae  acknowledges  taking  you  from  the  ship,"  he  said 
meaningly.  "  She  is  ready  to  go  to  England  to  restore  you  to 
your  rights." 

Annizae  lifted  herself  to  her  feet.  She  cast  a  suspicious 
look  at  Lithgow. 

"  Wait,  seiior,"  she  said  with  a  cunning  smile.  "  Told  you 
not  that  there  were  two  rings?    Zufiega's  is  gone !" 

Lithgow  took  a  step  forward.  His  heart  sank.  That  ring 
was  the  most  important  evidence.  The  only  incontrovertible 
one. 

"You  have  not  lost  it,  Zufiega!"  he  exclaimed,  dis- 
mayed. 

For  reply  Zufiega  drew  forth  the  little  reliquary  which  hung 
at  his  neck.  By  whom  it  had  been  placed  there  he  knew  not. 
The  possession  of  it  had  been  one  of  his  earliest  remem- 
brances. From  its  secret  contents,  blessed  by  some  padre  at 
his  birth,  no  doubt,  he  extracted  the  ring  unsmilingly.  He 
held  it  up  before  Annizae's  eyes. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  163 

"  Dost  thou  remember  the  day  when  thou  didst  reveal  that 
my  father  was  ingle's  ?  " 

Annizae  bowed  her  head.  There  was  that  in  the  eyes  of 
Zunega  which  she  never  had  faced  before.  That  his  condem- 
nation could  have  power  to  shake  her  was  a  revelation  to  her- 
self. 

"  On  that  day  did  I  not  swear  to  avenge  thee?"  he  demanded. 
"  Did  I  not  swear  it  over  this  ring  which  thou  hadst  said  was 
his  own?  Were  not  my  words  these:  'I  will  have  no  mercy 
for  an  i»g/es  since  thou,  my  mother,  hast  suffered  because  of 
one  ?' " 

Annizae  could  not  meet  his  eyes.  She  endeavored  to.  but 
her  own  fell.     They  were  no  longer  fearless. 

"  Why  didst  thou  not  speak  the  truth,  then,"  he  questioned 
sternly.  "  Thou  wert  willing  that  I  should  vent  fury  on  those 
of  my  father's  nation,  when  thou  alone  wert  the  one  on  whom 
revenge  should  fall." 

With  his  magnificent  figure  drawn  up  to  its  fullest  height, 
his  long  black  orbs  blazing  with  righteous  indignation,  his 
blue-black  hair  quivering  with  the  motion  of  his  perfectly 
poised  head,  Zunega  looked  a  prince  of  blood  royal. 

Lithgow  stared  at  him  fascinated.  Beauty  in  a  man  lie 
never  had  admired,  but  this  creature  before  him  was  more 
than  beautiful;  he  was  grand,  impressive,  a  young  god. 
Every  muscle  stood  out  saliently.  He  appeared  like  a  living 
piece  of  golden  bronze. 

Annizae  threw  out  her  hands  with  the  palms  upward. 

"  Suffered  I  nothing?  Did  not  thy  mother  win  that  which 
was  mine?     Had  I  no  wrongs?" 

Zuiiega  threw  his  head  backward  and  looked  up  into  the 
blue-white  of  the  zenith.  He  did  not  answer  at  once.  When 
he  did  his  voice  had  changed.  It  again  held  its  caressing 
cadences. 

"  It  is  possible,"  admitted  he  softly.  "  I  knew  not  my  father. 
If  he  wronged  thee,  I,  his  son,  will  make  amends.  Why 
should  I  bear  thee  malice?  Hast  thou  not  made  me  a  Culian? 
I  have  much  for  which  to  be  grateful.  Cuba  shall  have  reason 
to  rejoice  that  I  have  been  reared  a  son  of  the  forests." 

His  thoughts  had  flown  back  to  that  day  when  he  had  built 
the  palm  hut.     Raquel's  ringing  words  were  yet  in  his  mind. 

Lithgow's  admiration    for   Zunega's   pliysical    perfection 


1 64  A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA. 

passed  into  a  like  feeling  for  the  mental  development  which 
had  made  such  a  reply  possible. 

"  Neither  English  nor  Cuban  blood  are  wholly  responsible 
for  such  fine  nobility,"  he  told  himself,  "  He  has  sapped  it 
from  the  vaulted  arches  and  silent  naves  of  a  cathedral 
grander  than  brain  or  fingers  of  man  can  build."  Aloud  he 
said: 

■■  Both  of  you  shall  have  your  wrongs  righted.  I  have  made 
every  preparation  for  sailing  on  the  morrow.  You,  Zuiiega, 
have  nothing  to  fear  more  from  Gonzalo  Alarcon.  You  leave 
Cuba  now,  as  you  came  near  leaving  it  in  your  babyhood, 
under  your  rightful  name,  Robert  Deene  Percival,  heir  to 
Harberton  Towers  and  the  title  its  owner  bears." 

"  Gracias,  senor,"  smiled  Zuiiega.  "  I  am  obedient  to  you, 
but  always  remain  I  a  Cuban.  He  who  once  is  Cuban  is 
Cuban  ever." 


CHAPTER   XV. 

When  their  ship  cut  through  the  sapphire  waters  of  the  har- 
bor on  its  way  to  the  open  sea,  Zuiiega  stood  on  deck  shading 
his  eyes  with  his  hand.  The  sunshine  on  the  quivering  ex- 
panse of  liquid  sky  through  which  they  swept,  the  glare  of 
the  brilliant  facades  of  the  dwellings  in  the  city,  was  more 
than  human  vision  could  endure  without  blinking.  He  was 
very  grave.  His  gaze  was  riveted  on  the  moimtains,  which 
from  the  distance  looked  softly  undulating,  bathed  in  an 
emerald  refulgence  that  slowly  faded  to  blue  before  the  most 
perfect  jewel  of  the  Caribbean  slipped  below  the  horizon. 

No  word  of  farewell  was  on  his  lip,  but  his  heart  seemed  to 
him  to  be  pent  up  in  so  small  a  compass  that  the  blood  stood 
still  in  his  veins,  being  unable  to  force  itself  through. 

"  When  my  eyes  behold  thee  again,  it  will  be  when  I  come 
to  fight  for  thee,"  he  said,  ignorant  that  he  spoke  aloud. 

Lithgow,  standing  by  his  side,  also  watching  the  disappear- 
ance of  the  island  with  yearning  look,  gave  him  a  glance  of 
inquiry. 

"You  never  will  return  to  Cuba,"  he  prophesied,  know- 
ing some  of  the  temptations  which  would  be  likely  to  keep 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  165 

Zunega  on  English  soil  and  drive  all  thought  of  this  spot 
from  his  mind. 

"  When  the  hour  to  struggle  for  the  island's  freedom  comes, 
I  will  be  here,  seiior,"  Zunega  declared  firmly.  "  I  so  have 
vowed  to  the  senorita." 

"  Do  you  mean  the  Seiiorita  Raquel?"  questioned  Lithgow 
with  some  astonishment. 

"  Si,  senor  mio,  the  Senorita  Raquel,"  nodded  Zunega. 

"  What  difference  does  it  make  to  her  if  you  come  to  fight 
for  Cuba?"  Lithgow's  voice  had  a  tone  in  it  that  attracted  the 
Cuban  youth's  attention.     He  turned  his  eyes  upon  Lithgow. 

"  She  longs  to  do  what  a  man  might  for  Cuba,"  he  explained 
naively.  "  She  is  a  woman ;  she  can  do  nothing — only  with 
her  fiery  words  breathe  that  into  the  heart  of  man  whicli  was 
not  there  before.  I  will  fight  for  her.  I  will  fight  for  my- 
self. If  what  you  speak  is  true,  if  gold  is  mine,  I  can  do  more 
than  fight.  I  can  provide  other  men  with  arms  and  ammu- 
nition. All  Cuba  would  fight  if  it  had  weapons.  Unarmed, 
it  can  do  nothing  but  submit." 

As  by  a  flash  Lithgow  understood  several  questions  which 
Raquel  had  asked  concerning  Zunega's  fortune  and  what  use 
he  would  be  likely  to  put  it  to.  His  explanation  that  the 
property  was  entailed  had  appeared  to  depress  her.  He  had 
wondered  at  the  fact  at  the  time. 

"  Her  sojourn  in  the  forest  was  not  an  idle  one,  then,"  he 
commented,  aware  of  a  foolish  feeling  of  pique  as  he  regarded 
the  fine  stalwart  figure  before  him.  "  She  inspired  you  with 
patriotic  motives — when?  On  the  journey  toward  the  plan- 
tation?" 

"  Before  I  knew  that  she  intended  to  escape,  senor.  She 
had  bitter  words  for  him  who  lived  without  thought  of  Cuba's 
future.  They  were  words  that  stung.  I  shall  not  forget 
them.     I  shall  not  forget  her." 

Lithgow  leaned  hard  back  against  the  taflrail. 

"  Why  not?"  he  demanded  sharply. 

Zunega  shook  his  head. 

"  I  can  tell  you  not  why,  seiior,"  he  replied,  looking  far  out 
across  the  sea.  "  But  I  think  of  her  always,  always,  asleep  or 
awake.  I  see  only  her  eyes,  even  now  while  I  .seem  to  watch 
the  sea." 

Lithgow  waited  a  long  moment.     Tlicrc  was  a  glow  on  the 


l66  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

beautiful  southern  face  that  a  man  may  see  once  in  a  life- 
time. He  knew  what  bad  come  to  the  lad  if  the  lad  him- 
self did  not.  His  voir.^  was  tender  when  he  finally  said 
slowly : 

"  You  do  not  know  that  she  is  to  marry — the  old  M. 
Theuriet?" 

Zunega  stepped  backward.  His  fingers,  which  had  been 
lying  lightly  on  the  taffrail,  tightened  spasmodically.  His 
lips  lost  their  cr^.mson.  The  sweet  melancholy  of  his  eyes 
deepened  into  surprise,  a  growing  realization  of  what  it 
meant  to  his  hopes,  then — dismay.  He  caught  the  American 
by  the  arm. 

"  It  is  not  true?"  he  pleaded. 

"  It  is  true,"  Lithgow  returned  sadly,  going  on  to  explain 
the  conditions  which  had  urged  her  into  the  agreement. 

Zuiiega  turned  once  half  around  and  looked  at  Annizae  as 
she  reclined  contentedly  in  a  sea-chair.  His  brows  were 
drawn  together. 

"  But  for  her,"  he  said  under  his  breath,  "  I  should  have  that 
which  would  make  me  the  equal  of  the  seiiorita!  I  could  free 
<aer  father  from  debt.  I  could  do  all  that  M.  Theuriet  will 
4o!     Annizae  shall  suffer," 

"  But  for  Annizae  you  never  would  have  known  the  Seno- 
rita  Raquel,"  reminded  Lithgow.  "  Instead,  you  might  have 
been  married  to  some  English  maiden  whose  mamma  had  an 
eye  on  your  title." 

"  Es  verdad"  admitted  Zunega  reluctantly. 

"  You  owe  Annizae  more  than  she  has  deprived  you  of," 
Lithgow  sg.id  quietly.  "  Ignorantly,  she  has  benefited  you. 
Though  a  bandit,  you  have  breathed  an  atmosphere  clearer, 
cleaner,  than  that  of  most  cities.  The  moral  poison  of  Paris 
never  has  entered  your  brain.  And  you  have  seen  a  white 
soul.  White  souls  are  so  scarce  in  life.  Be  guided  by  its  en- 
thusiasm. Go  back  and  fight  for  Cuba  if  you  will.  You  will 
win  Raquel's  gratitude,  her  praise.  The  fact  that  you  must 
fight  for  two  will  make  you  wise  and  strong.  Live  to  carry 
out  your  promise  to  her,  Zuiiega.  You  are  going  to  be  placed 
where  you  will  be  besieged  by  temptations,  the  subtle  power 
of  which  you  cannot  even  imagine.  Keep  her  face  before 
you.  The  thought  of  it  will  save  you  from  much  the  mere 
memory  of  which  would  cause  you  to  hate  yourself." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  1 67 

Zunega  held  out  his  hand.  He  grasped  Lithgow's  fingers 
almost  fiercely. 

"  Heard  you  not  my  words  to  her  when  I  turned  my  face 
away  from  the  sugar  plantation?"  he  asked.  "'Zunega  never 
forgets. '  I  repeat  them  to  you,  senor.  Some  day  you  shall 
learn  how  true  they  are." 

Through  the  days  which  followed,  they  spoke  often  on  the 
same  subject.  Lithgow  was  not  averse  to  discussing  her 
with  this  clean-hearted  boy,  and  he  sought  to  impress  upon 
Zuiiega  the  full  worth  of  her  rich  nature,  as  he  divined  it. 
Once  Zunega  murmured  astutely,  as  he  glanced  up  with  his 
soft,  powerful  eyes: 

"  The  senor,  he  will  not  forget  her  either!" 

Lithgow  was  conscious  that  the  color  swept  over  his  mature 
features  as  it  had  been  wont  to  do  in  his  boyhood  days.  Zu- 
iiega's  observation  had  surprised  him. 

"  I  must  forget  her,"  he  replied  meaningly.  "  There  is 
another." 

"  A  wife?"  queried  Zunega  with  a  touch  of  indignation. 

"  One  I  have  asked  to  be." 

"  Oh!"  Zunega's  tone  was  apologetic. 

"  You  will  see  her,"  promised  Lithgow. 

"  Is  she  as  beautiful  as  the  seiiorita?" 

"  Wait.  You  shall  answer  that  question  to  me  after  you 
have  seen  her." 

The  days  of  inaction  on  shipboard  seemed  well-nigh  inter- 
minable to  both  Annizae  and  Zuiiega.  The  muscles  of  the 
latter  appeared  to  be  striving  to  break  through  the  skin  in 
their  imperative  desire  for  exercise.  Lithgow  exerted  him- 
self to  provide  entertainment  for  both  of  them.  And  as  the 
ship  advanced  into  the  colder  atmosphere  of  the  north,  the 
lassitude  gradually  dropped  away  from  him.  He  found  him- 
self sniffing  the  sharp,  invigorating  air  with  the  same  pleasure 
with  which  he  had  swooned  beneath  the  balminess  of  the 
south  on  his  downward  trip. 

They  passed  the  heights  of  Neversink  as  the  night  closed 
in,  cold,  snowy,  dreary.  They  would  be  riding  at  anchor  in 
the  morning.  Annizae  was  in  a  state  of  perpetual  chill.  Her 
face  was  gloomy.  Her  triumpli  appeared  afar  off.  Zunega 
was  full  of  alertness.  He  had  made  friends  for  himself 
everywhere.     The   fascinations  of  his  venture   out   into  the 


1 68  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

world  were  taking  hold  of  him.  Lithgow  watched  him  and 
smiled. 

"  Zuiiega  will  forget,"  he  said,  "  when  he  is  master  of  Har- 
berton  Towers." 

Not  until  they  had  driven  from  the  docks  to  a  quiet  hotel 
and  Annizae  had  made  the  discovery  that,  though  the  breath 
of  winter  may  be  in  the  land,  the  Americans  know  how  to 
have  the  warmth  of  summer  in  their  houses,  did  her  morose- 
ness  abate.  She  then  looked  out  on  the  marvellous  sight  of  a 
white  shrouded  city  with  some  show  of  interest.  She  was 
thinking  of  what  an  awful  punishment  it  would  be  if  she 
should  be  held  a  prisoner  in  this  frozen  land.  The  dazzling 
snow  was  not  beautiful  in  her  eyes.  She  hungered  for  the 
greenness  of  Cuba. 

Zunega  was  enthusiastic.  From  the  windows  of  the  car- 
riage he  had  peered  out  at  the  rushing,  busy  world  into  which 
his  fortune  was  leading  him.  It  bewildered  him.  The 
throbbing  of  its  mighty  heart  beat  in  upon  his  ears  dis'tress- 
ingly,  but  his  muscles  twitched  and  his  nerves  tingled  with  a 
desire  to  join  the  mad  throng. 

Lithgow  had  breakfast  served  in  the  little  parlor  adjoining 
Annizae's  room.  Her  strange  attire  would  have  made  her  an 
object  of  curiosity  to  the  hotel  guests,  and  he  was  desirous  of 
not  calling  her  attention  to  the  fact  that  she  appeared  any 
different  from  others  of  her  own  sex.  Her  unshod  feet,  her 
short  dress  characteristic  of  her  class,  her  head  wound  with  a 
turban  that  had  one  end  brought  up  artistically  through  the 
top  in  the  form  of  a  "  castle,"  combined  to  give  her  an  unusual 
style  that  Lithgow  did  not  wish  should  be  interfered  with 
until  Mr.  Bertram  had  had  the  pleasure  of  viewing  her. 
Zufiega  was  not  as  conspicuous  in  the  way  of  garb,  but  his 
eyes,  wonderful  tinting,  and  superb  physique  caused  glances 
to  be  turned  toward  him  admiringly,  wonderingly. 

When  they  were  thoroughly  refreshed,  Lithgow  summoned 
a  carriage  and,  accompanied  by  them,  was  driven  at  once  to 
Mr.  Bertram's  office.  Their  entrance  into  the  ante-room 
caused  the  ofiftce  boy  and  the  typewriter  girl  to  exhibit  undis- 
guised signs  of  curiosity. 

Lithgow  prevented  the  announcement  being  made  of  his 
arrival,  and  gratified  himself  by  walking  in  upon  the  lawyer, 
after  ascertaining  that  he  was  unoccupied. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  169 

"Good-morning,  Bertram,"  he  remarked  coolly,  seating 
himself.     "  It  is  rather  cold  up  here." 

Bertram  removed  his  eyeglasses  in  astonishment. 

"  Lithgow  Hamilton !  Why,  it  can't  be  you !"  he  exclaimed, 
springing  up  with  his  glasses  in  his  left  hand.  "  Why  in  the 
world  didn't  you  write?  Haven't  heard  a  word  from  you. 
You  might  have  wired  that  you  were  on  the  way  home !  It 
would  have  saved  me  considerable  speculation,  I  can  assure 
you." 

"Well,  I've  been  busy,  too  busy  to  write,"  answered  Lith- 
gow,  with  an  assumed  air  of  having  little  to  say.  "  And,  I 
didn't  think  there  was  much  use  in  wiring  you." 

A  look  of  disappointment  passed  over  the  lawyer's  face. 
It  was  plain  that  he  had  hoped.  He  settled  himself  comfort- 
ably in  his  chair  again,  got  out  some  cigars,  offered  Lithgow 
one  and  helped  himself. 

"  We've  been  afraid  thaf  our  business  had  gotten  you  into 
some  trouble,"  he  said,  lighting  his.  "  We  sent  over  to  your 
firm,  and  even  they  said  that  they  had  not  heard  from  you." 

"  I  was  down  in  the  interior,"  explained  Lithgow.  "  I  wired 
them  on  reaching  Havana." 

"  Well,  what  luck  did  you  have?"  Bertram  ventured  to  ask 
finally.  "I  mean  in  regard  to  your  own  business;  I  know 
by  your  face  that  you  were  not  successful  in  regard  to  the 
other." 

Lithgow  laughed. 

"  Do  I  wear  my  heart  in  my  face?"  he  asked, 

"  No,  of  course  not,  but  if  you  had  learned  anything  impor- 
tant you  would  rush  to  tell  me." 

"  I  am  sorry  to  show  you  what  a  miserable  mind  reader  you 
are."  Lithgow  returned.  "  I  am  congratulating  myself  that  I 
have  not  been  an  utter  failure.  I  will  exhibit  what  I  have  in 
the  way  of  a  clew." 

He  arose,  opened  the  door,  and  motioned  for  Annizae  and 
Zuiiega  to  enter. 

Bertram  stood  erect,  with  an  eager  expectancy  that  he  con- 
cealed beneath  a  dignified  and  half-skeptical  exterior. 

As  the  two  entered,  he  fell  back  a  step  involuntarily. 

"  Permit  me  to  present  to  you  Brinci/i  Annizae  and  the 
child  that  she  exchanged  for  her  own,"  said  Lithgow,  wholly 
satisfied  with  the  effect  produced  on  the  lawyer. 


170  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

Annizae  herself  was  trembling  in  every  limb,  ignorant  of 
what  awaited  her;  the  judicial  bearing  and  keen  blue  eyes  of 
the  lawyer  were  not  calculated  to  inspire  other  than  a  certain 
feeling  of  fear  and  awe,  but  the  expression  of  mingled  in- 
credulity and  delight  which  overshot  his  visage  visibly  les- 
sened Annizae's  afifright.  He  appeared  rooted  to  the  Boor 
for  a  moment,  then  he  advanced  toward  them  with  a  sum- 
moning back  of  his  usual  non-betraying  manner. 

"  I  hope  this  is  no  joke  that  you  are  playing  on  me,  Hamil- 
ton," he  remarked,  as  he  welcomed  the  new-comers  and  placed 
chairs  for  them. 

"It  is  no  joke  unless  I  am  very  much  mistaken,"  replied 
Lithgow.     "  Zuiiega,  hold  out  your  hand." 

Zuiiega  complied.  Lithgow  extended  his  own  at  the  same 
time.  The  two  I'ings  stared  the  lawyer  in  the  face.  Bertram 
leaned  forward  excitedly  and  inspected  Zunega's  through  his 
glasses. 

"  Zunega  was  in  possession  of  this  ornament  when  I  first 
saw  him."  Lithgow  stated.  "I  then  learned  on  reputable 
authority  that  his  father  was  an  Englishman,  whom  the  lad 
never  had  seen,  and  that  his  supposed  mother  went  by  the 
name  of  Annizae  and  was  a  member  of  a  mountain  band  of 
bandits,  in  whose  society  she  had  reared  him.  That  and  the 
possession  of  the  ring  seemed  conclusive  proof  that  they 
were  the  individuals  you  desire." 

Bertram  seemed  half  incapable  of  crediting  such  good 
fortune. 

"  If  I  did  not  know  you  thoroughly,  Hamilton,  I  should  be 
inclined  to  believe  this  thing  a  'fake;'  it  is  too  good  to  be 
true,"  he  exclaimed.  "But  your  word  and— this  other  ring 
are  sufficient  to  convince  me  that  you  have  made  a  brilliant 
success  of  what  others  have  failed  on  j^ear  after  year.  All 
that  we  get  out  of  it  we  will  share  with  you,  but  even  that 
will  not  repay  you  in  proportion  to  the  value  of  the  discovery. 
Let  me  hear  how  you  managed  it?" 

"  It  really  seemed  to  manage  itself,"  said  Lithgow.  "  I  am 
less  wonderful  than  you  think.  Nothing  but  a  chain  of  cir- 
cumstances, seemingly  disastrous  but  really  fortuitous,  so  far 
as  Zuiiega  was  concerned,  brought  him  into  my  presence. 
The  ring  attracted  my  eyes.  The  remainder  of  the  discovery 
followed  as  a  matter  of  course,  with  the  result  that  both  of 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA  171 

them  are  here  in  your  office.  To  give  you  all  the  details  I 
shall  be  obliged  to  relate  all  that  occurred  before  and  after  I 
reached  the  estate  of  La  Buena  Esperanza,  the  last  one  on  my 
list,  and  one  with  which  the  firm  had  expressed  a  particular 
desire  to  open  trade." 

"  Go  on,"  requested  the  lawyer.     "  Leave  out  nothing." 

Lithgow  recounted  the  abduction  of  Raquel  and  the  events 
which  strangely  had  sprung  from  it. 

"  It  sounds  like  a  fairy  story,"  commented  Bertram  when  all 
had  been  told.  "  But  the  ring — I  fancy  that  the  London  solici- 
tors will  deem  that  pretty  conclusive.  I  shall  wire  them  at 
once.  Greene,  my  partner,  is  out  of  town.  I  cannot  leave 
until  he  returns,  but  we  can  make  preparations  for  going  on 
to  England.     I  shall  want  you  to  accompany  me,  Hamilton." 

"I'm  willing  enough,"  responded  Lithgow  with  a  laugh, 
"  but  the  firm  may  not  be.  I  have  not  been  around  to  the 
office  yet;  telephoned  them  of  my  arrival  and  thought  that  I 
would  apprise  you  of  this  affair's  progress  first.  I  shall  have 
to  leave  our  friends  here  in  your  care  while  I  attend  to  my 
own  business." 

"  How  am  I  to  get  on  without  an  interpreter?"  queried  the 
lawyer.     "  I  know  only  two  words  of  Spanish.?" 

"  I  think  there  is  a  little  cigarmaker  in  the  basement  around 
the  corner,"  suggested  Lithgow.  "  He  might  be  willing  to 
serve — for  a  consideration.  I  couldn't  possibly  remain  with 
them  all  the  time  between  this  and  the  hour  of  sailing,  if  I  am 
so  fortunate  as  to  be  permitted  absence  and  an  ocean  voyage." 

"No,  of  course  not,"  returned  Bertram.  "You  certainly 
have  done  your  part.  I'll  manage  all  right  if  they  are  willing 
to  place  themselves  under  my  care." 

"I'll  remain  at  the  hotel  with  them  and  be  with  them  as 
much  as  my  duties  and  social  obligations  will  allow,"  volun- 
teered Lithgow.     "  I'm  really  very  fond  of  Zuiiega." 

Bertram  glanced  at  the  physique  of  the  former  bandit. 

"  I  don't  think  that  I  ever  should  employ  the  term  'fond,'" 
he  remarked;  "  the  word  'afraid'  strikes  mc  as  being  more  ap- 
plicable." 

Lithgow  laughed  and  repeated  the  speech  to  Zuficga.  who 
looked  somewhat  bewildered.  It  was  evident  that  he  did  not 
realize  his  own  attractions. 

"  He  is  magnificent,  isn't  he?"  said  Lithgow  proudly,  as  if 


172  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

in  some  indefinite  way  on  him  the  credit  reflected  for  the 
youth's  perfect  build.  "lam  sure  that  the  Harberton  title 
never  had  a  more  lordly  bearer." 

"Should  we  not  begin  to  call  him  by  his  proper  name?" 
asked  the  lawyer. 

"As  you  please,"  replied  Lithgow,  "if  he  will  answer  to 
it.  To  me  I  fear  he  always  will  be  'Zuiiega. '  It  seems  to  fit 
him  in  some  way  better  than  the  English  cognomen." 

He  explained  to  the  two  Cubans  that  he  now  must  leave 
them  in  the  hands  of  the  lawyer  and  promised  them  the  most 
perfect  courtesy  and  hospitality.  Annizae's  features  ex- 
pressed the  utmost  consternation  when  she  perceived  that  she 
was  to  remain  with  the  stranger.  Lithgow's  assertions  of 
complete  freedom  from  punishment  scarcely  quieted  her. 

"  I  will  send  you  one  from  your  own  country,"  he  told  her 
finally.  "  He  may  take  you  among  those  who  speak  your  own 
language.  Mr.  Bertram  will  make  arrangements  with  him 
regarding  that." 

"  Caution  her  against  speaking  of  this  matter,"  suggested 
the  lawyer.  "  Too  much  reticence  cannot  be  preserved  in 
affairs  of  this  kind." 

"  You  would  deem  no  caution  necessary  if  you  knew  her 
better,"  observed  Lithgow.  "  Those  she  had  lived  among  for 
years  were  ignorant  of  her  story." 

Bertram  regarded  her  with  a  show  of  compelled  admira- 
tion. 

"  I  wish  more  of  her  sex  possessed  her  faculty  of  silence." 
he  commented.  "  Wouldn't  it  be  advisable  to  buy  her — some 
shoes  or  something?" 

"  I  would  make  no  change  in  her  appearance  until  you  had 
seen  her,"  said  Lithgow.  "  She  is  your  charge  now.  Lll 
send  Felipe  up  to  you,  and  he  can  bring  some  of  his  female 
relatives.  Under  their  tuition  she  may  make  what  changes 
the  difference  in  atmosphere  warrants.  She's  fairly  frozen  in 
this  ice-locked  land." 

"  Wait ;  let  me  reimburse  you  for  all  the  expense  to  which 
you  have  been  put,"  urged  the  lawyer,  going  to  his  safe. 

"  Another  time,"  pleaded  Lithgow.  "  I  really  should  be  off 
now.  Shall  I  stop  and  see  if  Felipe  is  at  his  old  stand?  He's 
a  nice  fellow.     Has  provided  my  cigars  for  two  years." 

"  I  wish  you  would,  Hamilton,"  Bertram  said  gratefully. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  I73 

"With  liim  to  act  as  interpreter  I'll  search  her  past  as  thor- 
oughly as  my  wits  will  suggest.  I  almost  am  afraid  to  let 
myself  accept  them  as  the  persons  for  whom  such  fruitless 
searches  have  been  made." 

"I  don't  see  how  you  can  hesitate,"  Lithgow  answered. 
"  It's  as  clear  as  daylight  to  me." 

"  Do  not  fear,  Annizae,"  he  said  reassuringly.  "  Remember 
that  you  have  come  to  prove  that  you  are  not  without  your 
own  wrongs.  We  will  dine  together  to-night,  and  you  will 
find  that  this  lawyer  is  your  best  friend.  He  it  is  who  will 
win  for  you  your  triumph.  If  you  are  to  have  all  that  you 
claim  should  have  been  yours  in  the  first  place,  he  is  the  one 
who  will  help  you  to  secure  it." 

Then  he  took  Bertram  apart  and  explained  the  inducements 
which  he  had  held  out  in  order  to  hold  the  woman. 

■■  She  must  meet  with  no  punishment,"  he  insisted.  "  I  have 
promised  her  things  that  please  a  woman's  heart  and  gold 
enough  to  enable  her  to  return  to  Cuba  and  live  as  she  will. 
She  shall  have  my  share  of  the  'profits,'  if  there  is  no  other 
\vay  of  keeping  my  word  good." 

Bertram  looked  doubtful.  He  pursed  up  his  lips. 
"  I  don't  know  what  disposition  they  will  make  of  her,"  he 
said  slowly.  "  I  suppose  that  is  not  for  us  to  say.  I  should 
think  the— the  heir— himself  would  bear  her  some  malice.  I 
think  I  should  desire  some  punishment  to  be  inflicted  on  one 
who  had  deprived  me  as  she  has  him." 

"  I  believe  that  Zuiiega  has  decided  that  he  owes  her  some- 
thing for  having  made  him  a  Cuban,"  returned  Lithgow,  smil- 
ing at  Bertram's  surprise,  "Well!  I'll  see  you  at  the  hotel 
to-night?     All  right!     I'm  glad  you  are  satisfied." 

He  took  his  way  to  the  offices  of  his  firm  and  was  closeted 
therein  for  the  greater  portion  of  the  day. 

It  was  near  four  o'clock  before  he  felt  at  liberty  to  turn  his 
steps  in  the  direction  of  Beatrice's  studio.  He  had  not  writ- 
ten or  notified  her  of  his  arrival  in  town. 

"  If  the  words  at  the  close  of  her  letter  were  significant,  I 
can  detect  the  truth  when  I  walk  in  upon  her  unexpectedly." 
he  said  to  himself,  as  he  strode  along  the  familiar  pave- 
ments. 


174  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 


As  he  went  up  in  the  elevator  and  stepped  out  at  the  top 
floor,  Lithgow  found  it  difficult  to  believe  that  he  had  been 
away  from  New  York.  It  seemed  only  the  yesterday  that  he 
had  come  up  to  Beatrice's  atelier  in  this  same  way.  He  was 
conscious  of  a  foreign  timidity  as  he  knocked  gently.  He 
knew  that  his  heart  beat  a  trifle  faster  than  was  its  wont,  but 
not  with  the  tumultuous  eagerness  which  it  would  have  expe- 
rienced two  months  previous.  It  was  wonderment  which  was 
stirring  him  now,  uncertainty  as  to  what  Beatrice  might  re- 
veal in  her  surprise. 

Beatrice  opened  the  door. 

For  an  instant  she  stood  amazed  by  what  seemed  like  his 
apparition,  then  she  cried : 

"  Why,  Mr.  Hamilton !  How  you  delight  in  astonishing 
people !     I  thought  that  you  were  in  Cuba !" 

She  held  out  her  hand  cordially  and  drew  him  into  the  room, 
where  he  discovered  that  her  little  tea-kettle  was  steaming 
hospitably  on  a  Turkish  tabouret,  around  which  were  clustered 
a  few  of  the  artists  who  had  studios  in  the  building.  These, 
with  their  teacups  in  one  hand,  rose  to  be  presented  to  him ; 
and  he  seated  himself  in  their  midst,  feeling  that  their  pres- 
ence was  responsible  for  the  perfectly  conventional  greeting 
that  had  been  accorded  him. 

"  When  did  your  boat  get  in?"  questioned  Beatrice.  "  I  saw 
no  account  of  arrivals  in  this  morning's  paper." 

"  Too  late  to  be  inserted,  perhaps,"  he  replied. 

"  Do  you  know,  at  first  I  thought  that  your  ghost  had  ap- 
peared to  notify  me  of  some  dreadful  accident  happening  to 
you,"  she  declared. 

"You  did  not  appear  exceedingly  alarmed,"  commented 
Lithgow,  slightly  laughing.  "  If  the  news  of  my  discontinua- 
tion arouses  no  more  grief  than  you  then  displayed,  I  fear  that 
I  am  held  but  lightly  in  your  esteem." 

"  I  would  perpetuate  you  in  marble,"  apologized  Beatrice. 
"  What  more  could  the  vain  heart  of  man  desire?" 

"I  have  brought  you  two  fine  subjects,"  Lithgow  went  on 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  175 

to  say.     "  You  will  have  time  for  only  a  snap  shot  at  them, 
however.     The}'  are  birds  of  passage." 

Beatrice  looked  at  him  inquiringly. 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say — "  she  began. 

"  Yes,"  he  nodded,  without  waiting  for  her  to  complete  her 
supposed  conjecture.  "  I  was  successful  in  my  ventures,  and 
you  may  profit  to  the  extent  of  having  for  a  model  one  of  the 
most  superb  specimens  of  the  genus  man." 

"  Your  honored  self?"  queried  one  of  the  artists,  making  a 
pretense  of  getting  out  a  sketching-block. 

"  That's  quite  clever.  Miss  Durame,  but  sarcastic,"  frowned 
Lithgow.  "  As  punishment,  you  shall  not  be  permitted  to 
look  upon  the  charms  of  the  model  mentioned.  In  fact,  I  will 
not  let  him  be  made  cheap  by  water-color  sketches  and  such. 
Clay  and  bronze  for  him.  The  woman  would  do  excellently 
for  you,  however." 

"  Oh,  then  there  is  a  woman  in  it!" 

"  Isn't  there  always? '  demanded  the  impressionist  Brandt 
from  his  corner  of  the  old  Dutch  settle,  which  Beatrice  had 
picked  up  at  an  auction  from  a  neighboring  studio. 

"That  is  too  stupendous  a  question,  Brandt."  Lithgow 
shook  his  head  as  he  took  a  cup  of  tea  and  a  biscuit  from  Bea- 
trice.    "  I  wonder  at  you  for  introducing  it." 

"Yes,  time  is  too  limited,"  agreed  Brandt,  looking  at  his 
watch.  "  How  many  dozen  more  cups  of  tea  are  you  intend- 
ing to  drink.  Miss  Durame?  You  know  that  you  promised  to 
walk  about  with  me  to  take  a  peep  at  that  exhibition  of  Von- 
noh's  pictures.     I  want  to  convince  you " 

"  Oh,  I  know,"  she  interrupted,  putting  down  her  cup  reluc- 
tantly. Mr.  Hamilton  was  a  much  more  attractive  personage 
than  Mr.  Brandt,  and  she  would  have  preferred  to  stay.  "  You 
may  insist  on  your  splashes  of  purple  and  your  dazzling 
greens,  but  Nature  is  soft  and  harmonious,  not  glaring  and 
offensive  to  one's  visual  organs." 

"  You  don't  know  how  to  look  at  Nature,"  the  impressionist 
declared.  "  Your  sight  must  be  trained  as  one's  ear  and  voice 
are  trained  in  the  study  of  music.  Won't  you  come  wiili  us, 
Miss  Faber  and  Miss  Lacroit?" 

Lithgow  felt  like  shooting  him  a  grateful  glance,  as  the  ar- 
tists mentioned  placed  their  cups  on  a  convenient  chair  and 
proceeded  to  accept  the  invitation,  arguing  within  themselves 


176  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

that,  though  Mr.  Hamilton  was  nicer,  it  was  an  honor  seldom 
conferred  on  them  to  visit  a  collection  in  company  with  one 
of  the  foremost  artists  of  the  city. 

"  They  would  have  staid  until  the  cock  crew,"  breathed 
Lithgow  when  the  door  had  closed  upon  them,  "  if  it  had  not 
been  for  Brandt." 

"Have  another  cup  of  tea," urged  Beatrice,  "and  tell  me 
all  about  everything." 

"  I  have  not  drank  this  yet,"  answered  Lithgow.  "  I  don't 
see  how  women  manage  to  talk  and  drink  tea  at  the  same 
time." 

"  Your  English  education  has  been  neglected,"  Beatrice  in- 
formed him,  "  It  is  quite  an  art  to  take  tea  and  chat,  I  assure 
you.  I  believe  that  Englishmen  are  obliged  to  take  a  regular 
course  of  it  at  their  colleges," 

"I  must  come  up  every  afternoon  and  practise,  then,"  he 
said,  "  for  I  sail  for  Liverpool  within  a  week." 

"  You  do  not  mean  it!"  Her  voice  was  full  of  genuine  dis-- 
may. 

"  Yes,"  he  nodded,  sipping  away  assiduously. 

"  Why?" 

"  I  am  going  over  to  help  establish  the  claim  of  Robert 
Deene  Percival  to  the  title  of  Lord  Harberton," 

"  Do  you  really  mean  that  the  commission  that  Mr.  Bertram 
gave  you  was  actually  successful?" 

"  Perfectly,"  he  declared. 

"  Don't  be  aggravating!  Do  tell  me  how  you  came  to  find 
the  baby !"  she  begged. 

Lithgow  bit  through  a  biscuit  with  decorous  gravity. 

'  I'll  bring  it  up  to-morrow,"  he  promised.  "  It's  about  six 
feet  tall !" 

Beatrice  gave  a  little  shriek, — then,  as  she  realized  that 
the  child  had  grown  with  the  years,  burst  into  laughter. 

"  Is  he  the  superb  specimen?" 

"  Of  course.    What  did  you  suppose?" 

"  Why,  I  did  not  understand  you  at  all.  I  thought — you 
know  you  seldom  are  in  earnest,  Lithgow." 

"  I  can't  imagine  where  or  how  I  won  that  reputation  of 
being  a  jester,"  groaned  he.  "  I  always  am  in  earnest,  only 
people  don't  believe  it." 

"  Your  tone  is  generally  bantering,"  Beatrice  sought  to  ex- 


A    DACGIITEK   OF   CUBA.  177 

plain.  "  I  have  seen  people  look  at  you  questioningly,  uncer- 
tain whether  to  laugh  or  be  solemn ;  then  they  see  the  quiz- 
zical light  in  your  eyes  and  they  laugh,  thinking  they  are 
safe." 

"  Then  my  eyes  deceive  them  instead  of  my  tone,"  corrected 
Lithgow. 

"  I  am  afraid  that  neither  are  to  be  trusted,"  remarked 
Beatrice  with  a  sidewise  glance. 

"  When  my  oldest  friends  turn  against  me,  then  am  I  forlorn 
indeed !"  Lithgow  emptied  his  cup  dolorously  and  asked  for 
more. 

"  Not  until  you  retract  your  words,"  she  refused.  "  Any  one 
would  think  that  I  boasted  seventy  summers !  I  do  not  choose 
to  be  numbered  among  those  ancient  individuals  called  your 
'  oldest  friends.' " 

"  I'll  retract  anything  if  you  will  tell  me  if  you  were  in 
earnest  when  you  wrote  that  you  missed  me." 

"  Of  course  I  was  in  earnest,"  she  declared  calmly.  "  I 
really  did  not  dream  that  you  were  so  much  a  part  of — New 
York.  When  you  are  away,  the  entire  city  might  as  well  be 
gone." 

"  I  wish  you  would  put  more  feeling  into  your  words," 
he  complained,  "  they  sound  like  papier-mache  images — • 
hollow." 

It  was  true  that  her  tone  forbade  any  demonstration, 
though  her  words  seemed  to  invite. 

The  tea-kettle  crackled.     Beatrice  lifted  it  and  shook  it. 

"  It  is  empty,"  she  said.  "  It  is  too  bad  that  you  can't  have 
another  cup.  Won't  you  come  and  dine  with  mamma  and  me.' 
I  wish  to  hear  of  your  adventures." 

"  I  have  not  been  so  lucky  as  to  have  any,"  he  said  with  an 
air  of  confession.  "  I  would  be  glad  enough  to  accept  your 
invitation,  but  I  can't  to-night;  I'm  to  meet  Mr.  Bertram  at 
the  hotel  with — the  claimant.     May  I  come  to-morrow  night?" 

"Yes;  and  bring  the  'superb  specimen.'" 

"  Shall  I?"  he  queried.  "  I  am  afraid  you  will  fall  in  love 
with  him ;  or  do  you  consider  yourself  proof  against  even — "  ' 

"  Because  1  don't  fall  in  love  with  you,  you  think  possibly  I 
am  proof  against  all  masculine  charms?"  she  demanded  laugh- 
ingly.    "  I  really  am  very  susceptible." 

"  When  I  relate  what  a  delightful  trip  I've  had,  you  will  be 
\i 


178  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

consumed  with  regret  that  you  refused  to  accompany  me,"  he 
prophesied. 

"  I  actually  did  mourn  that  I  was  not  there  to  see  the  girl 
whom  the  bandits  stole,"  she  admitted.  "  Was  she  a  disap- 
pointment? You  remember  that  you  wrote  after  you  had 
reached  the  coffee  plantation  of  M.  Theuriet,  and  you  said 
that  as  soon  as  your  host  returned  and  you  learned  more  of 
the  matter  you  would  write  again.  Not  another  line  arri%^ed. 
Did  you  write?" 

"  No,"  answered  Lithgow  honestly.  "  I  expected  to  be  here 
almost  as  soon  as  a  letter  would." 

"  Well,  did  her  father  find  the  brigands  and  kill  them  all?" 

"  No;  he  returned  from  the  search  utterly  discouraged,  the 
morning  following  my  letter  to  you  which  the  guide  mailed. 
What  did  happen  was  romantic,  almost  too  romantic,  for  this 
end  of  the  century." 

"  Which  means  that  you  were  the  one  to  rescue  her  and, 
subsequently,  you  fell  in  love,"  decided  Beatrice. 

"  You  are  no  Yankee,  Bee,"  he  declared;  "  you  never  could 
win  a  prize  at  guessing!  This  was  the  way  of  it:  the  future 
Lord  Harberton  was  the  noble  individual.  He  saved  her 
from  becoming  the  wife — the  second  wife — of  the  chief,  and 
in  so  doing  he  discovered  himself,  so  to  speak.  Not  until 
then  did  I  advance  upon  the  scene,  and  then  only  to  make  in- 
quiries and  such  trifling  things,  with  the  result  that  he  and  the 
woman  who  interfered  with  his  fortune  are  here  in  New  York 
e?i  route  to  England." 

"  It  is  fairly  incredible,  isn't  it?"  exclaimed  Beatrice.  "  And 
what  about  the  abducted  girl?" 

"  She?  Oh,  she  is  to  marrj''  a  neighbor  who  was  willing  to 
ransom  her  if  need  be.  I'll  tell  you  the  whole  story  some 
time.  It  is  too  long  for  hasty  rehearsal.  Zunega  fell  in  love 
with  her,  I  fancy." 

"  Zuiiega?" 

"The  future  Lord  Harberton." 

"  Oh !    And  she  is  going  to  marry  another?" 

"Yes;  M.  Theuriet,  my  host." 

"  A  young  man?" 

"No-0-0;  a  man  about  seventy,  possibly." 

Beatrice  rose  to  her  feet.  She  began  putting  the  tea 
things  away. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  1 79 

"  She  couldn't  love  him  !" 
"No." 

Beatrice  looked  at  him  sharply.  There  was  a  note  in  his 
voice  that  was  suggestive  of  pain. 

"  Why  does  she  marry  him  then?" 

"I  believe  that  M.  Theuriet  is  going  to  pay  all  of  her 
father's  debts." 

"  And — her  father  permits  it?" 

"  He  does  not  know  that  is  what  influenced  her.  The  debts 
are  to  be  paid  without  his  knowledge;  something  of  that 
sort." 

"  And  she  loves  this  brigand  lord  !  Isn't  it  awful  what  mis- 
takes we  women  make,  or  think  it  is  our  duty  to  make !" 

"  She  does  not  know  that  Zunega  loves  her ;  at  least,  I  imag- 
ine that  she  does  not." 

Beatrice  tried  an  experiment. 

"  Why  didn't  you  promise  to  pay  her  father's  debts  and 
take  her  yourself,  Lithgow?"  she  asked. 

She  saw  the  start  that  he  gave,  but  she  could  not  be  certain 
as  to  what  had  caused  it;  for  he  sprang  to  his  feet  and  came 
close  to  her,  taking  her  hands  in  his. 

"  I  am  going  to  marry  you  some  day,  Beatrice,  am  I  not?" 
he  asked. 

"  I  thought  we  had  settled  that  in  the  negative,"  she  replied. 

"  Do  you  still  prefer  to  have  it  so  settled.'"  There  was  un- 
mistakable anxiety  in  his  question. 

Beatrice  hesitated.  She  knew  what  had  come  to  her  during 
the  hours  and  weeks  of  his  absence.  She  was  not  yet  willing 
that  he  should  know.  She  drew  a  halting  breath  that  was 
half  a  confession,  only  Lithgow  did  not  recognize  it  as  such. 

"  While  I  may  not  be  ready  to  marry  you  myself,  I  think  I 
should  object  vigorously  if  I  saw  another  about  to  become 
your  wife,"  she  told  him  with  an  attempt  at  lightness. 

"  You  care  enough  for  that?"  he  asked. 

"  Yes,"  she  said. 

Lithgow  knew  then  that  she  had  meant  all  that  the  little 
line  in  her  letter  had  betrayed.  He  would  have  drawn  her  to 
him,  but  she  released  herself  gently. 

"It  is  not  enough  to  satisfy  me."  She  shook  her  blonde 
head.  "  I  am  determined  to  love  fiercely,  completely,  ab- 
sorbingly.    Until  then,  I  shall  not  marry." 


l8o  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  Do  you  know  what  it  is  that  teaches  most  people  that 
they  love?"  he  queried  smilingly, 

"  Absence?" 

"  Possibly,  but  that  which  I  meant  was  jealousy." 

"  Then  I  must  ever  remain  in  ignorance  that  I  love,"  re- 
torted she.     "  I  have  not  a  spark  of  it  in  my  make-up." 

"  I  will  show  you  that  I  have  if  you  allow  yourself  to  be- 
come enamored  of  Zunega,"  he  warned.  "  Shall  I  bring  him 
up  here  to-morrow?  He  and  Annizae  are  certain  to  be  lonely 
and  I  shall  be  busy.  I  know  that  you  will  be  glad  to  model  a 
face  like  Zuiiega's." 

"  Bring  them,"  she  urged.  "  Miss  Durame  can  make  a  study 
of  the  one  you  call — Annizae?  yes,  Annizae.  She  can  send  it 
to  the  coming  exhibit.  She  has  not  been  very  successful  of 
late." 

"I'll  ride  out  on  the  cars  with  you,"  said  Lithgow,  as 
she  made  preparations  for  home-going.  "  I  wish  to  see  the 
mother.  Then  I'll  come  back  to  the  hotel.  Oh,  yes,  there 
is  time." 

He  was  very  tender  in  his  manner.  He  realized  how  far  he 
had  deviated  from  his  allegiance,  and  sought  to  make  amends 
for  it  in  a  way  that  would  satisfy  himself  without  exciting  her 
suspicions.  His  swerving  had  not  been  of  the  nature  that 
some  men  would  call  swerving,  but  in  his  heart  he  knew  that 
it  really  had  been  more  fatal  than  a  palpable  faithlessness. 
The  latter  he  could  have  forgotten. 

When  Lithgow  went  up  to  the  parlor  which  separated  Zu- 
iiega's room  from  Annizae's,  he  found  Felipe  and  his  pretty 
wife  ensconced  there,  having  been  invited  to  dine  by  no  less 
a  personage  than  the  lawyer  himself.  Annizae  had  been  some- 
what metamorphosed  by  the  addition  of  a  longer  skirt  and  a 
visit  to  a  neighboring  establishment  for  footwear.  Zunega's 
soft,  black  beard  had  disappeared,  leaving  his  features  re- 
markable for  their  purity  of  outline.  Otherwise  he  was  un- 
changed, Lithgow  viewed  him  with  renewed  admiration, 
Zuiiega  drew  Lithgow  aside. 

"  Felipe  tells  me  of  a  band  of  men,  senor,  who  are  united 
by  the  hope  of  freeing  Cuba,"  he  whispered.  "  Felipe  himself 
belongs  to  it.  All  who  can  prove  themselves  true-hearted 
Cubans  may  join.  It  is  there  that  I  wish  to  go.  To-night 
they  meet.     The  seiaor  has  no  objections?" 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  iSi 

"  Certainly  not,"  replied  Lithgow.    "  But  what  do  they  do?" 

"  That  is  what  I  wish  to  learn,  seiior.  I  would  be  one  of 
their  number.  The  day  may  come  when  I  could  help  as  Fe- 
lipe helps.     He  gives  all  that  he  can  to  push  the  work  on." 

"  I  will  ask  Felipe  if  I  may  go  with  him,"  decided  Lithgow. 
"  I  can  tell  better  than  he,  perhaps,  whether  it  is  a  legiti- 
mate affair  or  one  for  the  sole  purpose  of  drawing  just  enthu- 
siatic  fellows  as  he." 

So  it  came  about  that  the  whole  party,  with  the  exception 
of  the  lawyer,  went  to  attend  a  meeting  of  those  dauntless, 
heroic  souls  whose  hearts  never  will  rest  until  Cuba  is  free  or 
until  they  have  died  in  attempting  to  free  her. 

Fresh  from  the  island,  Lithgow  understood  fully  the  great 
depths  of  the  wrong  which  constantly  was  being  wrought 
against  Cuba  by  the  power  that  called  itself  the  "  mother 
country,"  but  might  more  truthfully  have  termed  itself  the 
"  monster  country."  He  listened  to  the  grave,  earnest  speeches 
that  were  made.  He  watched  the  strong,  passionate  visages 
lighted  by  the  pure  fire  of  patriotism.  Exiles,  whose  all  had 
been  swallowed  by  the  confiscating  government;  soldiers, 
who  had  fought  valiantly  in  the  ten-year  war;  youths,  in 
whose  veins  beat  the  elixir  of  liberty — a  striking  assemblage, 
and  one  which  was  destined  to  write  its  hoj^es  in  a  language 
that  Spain  could  not  feign  to  misunderstand. 

Lithgow  felt  that  he  was  in  the  solemn  presence  of  that 
mighty  Spirit  which  "  was  in  the  Beginning,"  and  broods 
yearningly  over  every  nation — deathless,  starry-eyed  Liberty. 
His  pulses  throbbed  in  sympathy  with  the  heroic  utterances 
that  found  voice  about  him.  He  was  charmed  by  the  calm- 
ness and  deliberation  which  characterized  the  speeches  of 
one  lofty-browed  man,  to  whom  all  appeared  to  look  as  to  a 
leader. 

"Who  is  he?"  he  inquired  of  an  enthusiastic  Cuban,  who 
applauded  vociferously. 

"  Marti — Jose  Marti.  Dios  guard  him  !  He  and  the  council 
of  direction  alone  stand  between  the  government  and  imme- 
diate insurrection." 

"You  can't  mean  it!"  exclaimed  Lithgow  in  a  low  tone. 
"  I  have  but  just  come  from  Havana.     Everything  is  as  qtiiet 
as  a — Campo  Santo.     There  is  no  suspicion  of  an  ui^risini^. " 
"  And  there  must  be  no  suspicion,  senor,"  smiled  the  Cuban. 


1 82  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

"  When  the  leaders  are  convinced  that  their  plans  are  perfect 
and  there  can  be  no  chance  of  failure,  the  word  will  be  given, 
and  before  Spain  has  time  to  send  over  fresh  troops  the  Cu- 
bans will  begin  their  fight  for  independence  under  the  same 
generals  who  led  them  twenty  years  ago." 

"  These  are  the  souls  with  whom  Raquel,  on  a  far-away 
sugar  plantation,  ignorantly  is  en  rapport,"  he  thought,  feeling 
that  he  had  in  some  measure  discovered  the  reason  for  her 
wakeful  patriotism,  kindled  by  unseen  fires.  "  The  subtle 
power  of  the  freedom-hungering  minds  convened  here  is 
flashed  straight  through  space  to  whatever  heart  beats  in 
unison  with  the  movement  for  liberty.  The  mental  ear  of 
the  poet,  the  prophet,  the  hero  catches  the  bugle-call  long  be- 
fore those  in  the  valleys  are  awakened.  A  mind  can  receive 
only  that  for  which  it  is  ripe.  She  shall  hear  more  specifi- 
cally of  these  voices  that  proclaim  that  Cuba  shall  be  free. 
I  will  show  her  the  truth  of  those  words  which  I  quoted  to 
her  half  idly:  'Every  sound  that  is  spoken  over  the  round 
world,  which  thou  oughtest  to  hear,  will  vibrate  on  thy  ear. 

He  was  won  from  his  thoughts  by  a  movement  from  Zu- 
fiega.  He  turned  to  see  what  occasioned  it.  He  was  startled 
almost  by  the  expression  on  the  youth's  face.  It  seemed 
transfigured  by  an  inspiring  passion  that  flamed  in  his 
wonderful  eyes  and  fairly  blazed  through  his  marvellous  gold 
tinting. 

"  Cuba  libre  !  Cuba  libre  !  " 

Every  voice  took  up  the  musical,  impassioned  cry. 

Zunega's  was  more  musical,  more  impassioned  than  any. 
It  attracted  the  gaze  of  the  leader.  The  ej^es  of  the  two  men 
appeared  to  meet  in  a  recognition  that  each  felt  perceptibly. 
Jose  Marti  spoke  to  the  man  nearest  him.  That  man  made  his 
way  in  Zuiiega's  direction.  He  approached  to  the  side  of  the 
youth. 

"  You  are  a  stranger — no?"  he  inquired  in  a  low  tone. 
"  Seiior  Marti  wishes  to  speak  with  you." 

When  the  meeting  broke  up  and  a  babel  of  speech  ensued, 
as  each  exchanged  greetings  with  his  neighbors,  Lithgow  fol- 
lowed Zuiiega  and  his  guide  to  where  the  dreamy  but  forceful 
countenance  of  the  leader  was  visible. 

"  You  are  a  stranger.     Tell  me  of  yourself,"  he  said  simply. 

Lithgow,  looking  from  one  face  to  the  other,  was  astonished 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  1S3 

to  see  that  the  two  possessed  a  resemblance  that,  while  intan- 
gible, was  noticeable.  He  could  not  locate  it.  unless  it  lay  in 
the  eyes,  which  were  liquid  with  a  melancholy  that  the  fever 
of  patriotism  did  not  burn  away.  To  this  natural  melancholy 
was  added,  in  Marti's  orbs,  the  sadness  which  had  come  from 
watching  over  the  woes  of  his  crushed  land.  His  glance  had 
a  peculiar  far-reaching  quality,  as  if  he  peered  through  the 
mists  of  the  future.  Did  he  perceive  the  death  that  waited 
for  him  on  a  Cuban  battlefield? 

"  To-day  I  set  foot  on  free  soil  for  the  first  time,"  Zuiiega 
said.  "  When  I  return  to  Cuba,  it  will  be  to  make  her  free 
also?" 

Marti  smiled.  The  smile  had  the  virtue  of  a  caress,  so 
sweet  was  it. 

"  You  will  return?" 

"  When  you  bid,  master."     Zuiiega  bowed  low. 

Marti  watched  him  with  visible  interest ;  then  he  turned 
his  glance  upon  Lithgow  inquiringly.  Lithgow  held  out  his 
business  card  with  a  word  of  explanation. 

Marti  extended  his  hand  cordially. 

"  Then  you  are  one  I  wish  to  see,"  he  said.  "  If  you  have 
been  going  through  Cuba  on  business,  you  have  done  so  with 
observing  eyes.  I  have  some  questions  that  you,  unpreju- 
diced, may  be  better  able  to  answer  than  a  Cuban.  Will  you 
come  to  see  me  to-morrow?" 

"  With  unbounded  pleasure,"  agreed  Lithgow.  "  May  I 
petition  that  this  youth  who  has  won  your  attention  may  ac- 
company me?  He  has  come  from  the  island  with  me.  I  can 
satisfy  you  in  regard  to  him;  and  he  is  of  a  mind  to  be  of 
great  service  to  the  cause." 

"  He  is  needed,"  answered  Marti.  "  He  has  the  face  of  a 
hero.  There  will  be  work  for  him  to  do.  Bring  him.  All 
Cubans  are  brothers." 

Thus  was  forged  the  link  that  united  Zuiiega  with  the  chain 
of  dauntless  hearts  that  hoped  to  draw  around  Cuba  the  magic 
circle  of  freedom,  within  which  the  iron  heel  of  the  tyrant 
could  nevermore  enter. 

They  made  their  way  back  to  where  they  had  left  Annizae 
with  Felipe  and  his  wife.  Felipe  regarded  Zunega  with  rev- 
erential glance.  His  manner  was  full  of  respect.  He  did  not 
understand  why  the  one  so  lately  from  the  island  and  so  igno- 


1 84  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

rant  of  this  Cuban  movement  had  been  summoned  to  the  side 
of  the  beloved  Marti ;  but  there  was  no  envy  in  his  breast. 
He  pressed  his  wife's  hand  close  to  his  side,  and  told  her  that 
they  were  honored  in  that  they  had  brought  him  here. 

On  the  way  back  to  the  hotel,  Zuiiega's  finely  poised  head 
turned  neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the  left.  There  was  an  ela- 
tion in  his  soul  that  had  not  been  there  when  he  had  been  told 
that  he  was  heir  to  an  estate  and  title.  He  felt  that  a  more 
important  legacy  had  fallen  to  him,  that  of  striking  blows 
which  should  rend  Cuba's  gyves  asunder. 


CHAPTER   XVn. 

With  his  slippered  feet  stretched  out  in  front  of  a  cosy  fire, 
that  night  after  the  Cuban  assembly  of  patriots,  Lithgow  sat 
long.  He  smoked  many  cigars,  and  their  delicate  fragrance 
made  him  half  fancy  that  he  was  back  in  the  sunny  court  with 
Raquel.  He  was  trying  to  convince  himself  that  he  owed  it 
to  her  and  her  father  to  write  and  report  concerning  the  voy- 
age and  the  lawyer's  reception  of  Annizae  and  Zuiiega.  He 
wanted  to  tell  her  about  this  club  of  liberty-loving  men  with 
whom  Zunega  was  to  become  identified.  The  pleasure  with 
which  he  dwelt  on  the  thought  of  writing  to  her  showed  him 
clearly  that  he  was  unfaithful  to  Beatrice  in  heart.  He  argued 
first  one  way  and  then  the  other,  as  he  smoked.  But  all  the 
time  he  knew  that  he  intended  to  write.  Finally  he  drew 
the  table  up  to  him  and  began. 

With  his  swift,  business  hand  he  covered  sheet  after  sheet, 
while  the  fire  grew  low  and  the  gas-lights  dim.  He  wrote  as 
he  never  had  written  before,  as  he  never  would  again.  When 
he  had  finished,  he  read  the  words  over,  arose,  thrust  back 
with  the  toe  of  his  slipper  the  graying  ashes,  and  held  the 
closely  penned  pages  over  the  dying  coals.  The  blue  tongues 
of  flame  reached  up  feebly  and  touched  the  edges  of  the 
sheets,  blackening  them.  He  watched  while  the  paper  curled 
and  the  ink  faded.  Finally  he  loosened  his  fingers  and  let 
the  letter  fall.  It  blazed  up  fiercely ;  but  in  another  moment 
only  black  shadows  lay  where  the  written  passion  of  a  life  had 
been. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  185 

"  The  story  it  told  is  better  there  than  in  her  heart,"  he  said 
with  a  sigh.  "  If  she  loved,  it  could  but  make  her  unhappy. 
If  she  loved  not,  it  would  be  of  small  value  to  her.  I  did  not 
dream  that  I  was  going  to  reveal  that." 

Resuming  his  seat,  he  wrote  a  description  of  the  things 
which  he  knew  both  she  and  her  father  would  be  anxious  to 
hear  relative  to  his  erstwhile  brigand  charges,  and  terminated 
with  an  account  of  the  manner  in  which  they  had  spent  the 
evening.     At  the  close,  he  added: 

"  Your  revolutionary  spirit  will  be  gratified  to  learn  that 
Zuiiega  is  determined  to  devote  his  fortune  to  the  liberation 
of  Cuba.  He  has  taken  the  first  step  in  his  career  as  a  Cuban 
patriot  this  night.  He  requested  me  to  say  to  you,  'Zuiiega 
will  not  forget!'  I  know  its  significance.  You  are  respon- 
sible for  the  noble  resolution  which  burns  within  him ;  he  has 
told  me  so.  Cuba  may  owe  a  portion  of  her  freedom  to  the 
efforts  of  an  isolated  maiden  who  mourns  her  powerlessness. 
Who  can  tell?" 

According  to  arrangements,  Lithgow  took  Annizae  and  Zu- 
iiega up  to  Beatrice's  studio  the  following  morning,  with  Fe- 
lipe's little  wife,  Anita,  to  act  in  the  capacity  of  interpreter. 

Beatrice  made  no  attempt  to  hide  her  delight  when  she  be- 
held Zunega. 

"Superb!"  she  cried.  "  Why,  he  might  have  come  down 
from  Olympus!"  And  she  lost  no  time  in  getting  to  work. 
Annizae  and  Anita  watched  her  curiously.  Zuiiega  feigned 
indifference,  to  hide  the  timidity  which  beset  him  with  this 
open  admiration  bestowed  upon  him,  as  if  he  had  been  an  ani- 
mal at  the  Zoo,  or  an  object  of  art.  But  he  watched  the 
sculptor  from  his  lustrous  eyes  with  a  critical  examination. 
He  noted  her  blonde  head,  the  straight,  fearless  look  from  the 
blue  orbs,  the  supple  figure.  He  divined  that  this  was  "  the 
other  one"  of  whom  Lithgow  had  spoken ;  and  he  compared 
her  with  Raquel.  It  was  a  difficult  thing  to  accomplish  satis- 
factorily, because  they  were  so  dissimilar.  This  northern 
girl  chilled  him  with  her  pale  beauty;  her  business-like 
method  bewildered  him.  She  seemed  to  look  at  him  without 
seeing  him  at  all.  He  felt  half  afraid  of  her.  Yet,  when  she 
smiled  into  his  questioning  eyes,  and  appeared  to  recollect 
that  he  was  alive,  and  not  like  the  plaster  casts  which  peered 
down  upon  him  from  the  wall,  he  liked  her. 


1 86  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

She  occasionally  plied  both  him  and  Annizae  with  queries 
concerning  themselves,  and  he  answered  through  the  lips  of 
Anita. 

"  Tell  me,  please,  how  you  saved  the  stolen  senorita  from 
becoming  the  wife  of  the  chief?"  she  requested  at  last,  wish- 
ing to  awaken  in  his  face  something  which  seemed  to  slumber 
there,  defying  her  efforts  to  arouse  it. 

He  obeyed  reluctantly,  fearing  that  it  would  not  be  cour- 
teous to  refuse,  but  he  made  his  part  of  the  undertaking  very 
small  indeed. 

"  You  are  humble,  as  befits  a  knight  who  loves  a  lady," 
smiled  Beatrice,  working  very  rapidly  to  snatch  the  expres- 
sion in  his  eyes.  Translated  by  Anita,  the  sentence  reached 
Zuiiega  differently,  and  he  answered  quickly : 

"  Who  once  has  seen  her,  loves  her;  even  the  Americano." 

Not  until  Beatrice  lifted  her  head  with  the  startled  motion 
of  a  bird  did  he  realize  what  he  had  said.  He  would  have 
rectified  it  if  he  had  known  how,  but  Beatrice  had  gone  on 
with  her  work  again,  and  he  tried  to  make  himself  believe  that 
she  had  not  heard  it.  To  satisfy  himself,  he  asked  Anita  to 
repeat  to  him  what  she  had  said  in  the  way  of  translation. 

"  Tell  the  sefiorita  that  you  did  not  understand  it  properly," 
he  told  her  anxiously. 

Anita  looked  a  trifle  rebellious,  but  complied. 

Beatrice  smiled  at  him  reassiiringly  over  her  heap  of 
clay. 

"  I  am  certain  what  Anita  repeated  was  the  truth,  whether 
or  not  it  was  what  you  told  her  to  speak,"  she  said  with  a  con- 
viction that  was  disconcerting.  "  Had  I  been  either  of  you 
men,  I  would  have  robbed  the  old  Frenchman  of  her  by  run- 
ning away  with  her  myself.  I  can't  imagine  where  was  Lith- 
gow's  American  spirit.  You  talk  of  giving  freedom  to  your 
island,  yet  you  took  her  from  the  chief  only  to  let  her  become 
the  purchase  of  another  I" 

Zuiiega  looked  troubled.  He  did  not  understand  that  she 
spoke  half  lightly.  Her  words  brought  up  before  him  the 
very  thing  which  he  sought  most  strenuously  to  keep  from 
sight,  the  picture  of  Raquel  as  a  wife — another's  wife. 

He  got  up  from  his  chair  abruptly  and  began  moving  about 
the  room.  When  he  saw  that  they  all  observed  him,  he  re- 
membered where  he  was  and  came  back  and  sat  down. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  1 87 

"  I  was  wishing  I  was  in  Cuba,"  he  explained  simply.  "  I 
shall  go  there  again,  please  Dios,  soon !" 

His  face  had  settled  again  into  its  gentle  sadness. 

Beatrice  worked  away  nervously.  Her  eyes  were  very 
bright  and  very  difficult  to  read.  She  was  in  that  mood  when 
every  touch  of  her  fingers  was  decisive  and  told  on  her  model- 
ling. She  knew  it  and  made  the  most  of  it.  She  asked  no 
more  questions  concerning  Raquel.  She  simply  bestowed  a 
quizzical  glance  upon  Lithgow,  when  he  came  up  to  see  how 
the  work  was  progressing. 

Miss  Durame  had  taken  possession  of  Annizae  and  was  en- 
thusiastic over  the  effective  sketch  which  was  emanating  from 
beneath  her  brush.  Other  artists  came  in  to  look  enviously  at 
the  models,  and,  altogether,  the  studio  wore  an  air  of  bustling 
activity. 

Lithgow  came  again  late  in  the  day,  and  remained  to  pass 
his  criticisms  upon  the  productions  until  darkness  compelled 
cessation  of  work;  then  he  escorted  Beatrice  and  the  two 
models  out  to  the  delightful  home  where  the  gentle,  gray- 
haired  Mrs.  Warrington  presided,  as  dignifiedly  as  she  had  in 
more  prosperous  days  over  the  luxurious  mansion  which  had 
been  hers  before  misfortune  had  overtaken  the  family. 

Some  little  awkwardness  was  noticeable  on  Annizae'spart, 
at  first,  but  the  apparently  unseeing  manner  in  v.'hich  they 
glossed  over  her  gaucheries  did  much  to  re-establish  her  self- 
esteem  and  prepare  her  for  the  more  trying  ordeals  which 
were  likely  to  await  her  on  the  other  side  of  the  ocean.  With 
some  trepidation,  she  dimly  discerned  a  fe.w  of  the  difficulties 
which  might  beset  her  in  the  way  of  etiquette  as  mistress  of 
Harberton  Towers,  and  she  covertly  essayed  to  make  her  own 
some  of  the  ease  which  distinguished  her  hostess.  She  stole 
stealthy  glances  at  Mrs.  Warrington's  well-arranged  coiffure, 
her  beautiful  white  skin,  her  manicured  nails.  A  medley  of 
troublesome  suggestions  went  rioting  through  her  brain.  She 
was  not  wholly  without  adaptability.  Life  in  the  family  of 
an  English  gentleman  had  not  been  without  its  salutary  effect 
upon  her,  but  the  free-and-easy  existence  which  she  had  led 
since  that  time  had  not  contributed  to  perfection  of  table 
manners. 

Zuiiega's  opportunity  for  observation  in  Havana  and  on  the 
voyage  to  New  York  had  not  been  unimproved.     His  dreamy 


iS8  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

eyes  made  a  note  of  everything,  no  matter  how  trivial.  Lith- 
gow  even  felt  some  alarm  lest  his  assertion  that  the  youth  had 
been  forest-bred  would  be  discredited. 

Mrs.  Warrington  gladly  would  have  entered  into  conversa- 
tion with  Annizae,  but  that  being  a  difficult  matter,  owing 
to  the  difference  in  their  languages,  contented  herself  with 
plying  the  woman  with  northern  comforts.  She  was  intensely 
interested  in  this  little  romance  which  had  come  to  their 
knowledge  through  Lithgow,  and  she  was  infatuated  with 
Zunega's  beauty.  The  fact  that  he  really  was  motherless 
appealed  to  her  wonderfully,  and  she  allowed  herself  to  fancy 
that  her  own  dead  son  would  have  looked  like  this  young 
Apollo  had  he  lived.  She  was  very  tender  in  her  glance  and 
speech  toward  the  young  fellow,  and  he  appreciated  and  re- 
sponded to  it  with  the  open-heartedness  of  a  boy. 

Lithgow  noted,  smiled,  and  commented  to  himself. 
"  Zuiiega  is  safe  here,  but  when  he  becomes  Lord  Harberton 
he  will  have  to  be  careful  how  he  succumbs  to  the  gentle  arts 
of  womankind.     All  of  the  British  matrons  will  not  be  as  in- 
nocent of  intention  as  dear  Mrs.  Warrington." 

This  was  but  one  of  the  occasions  on  which  Zuiiega  and 
Annizae  partook  of  the  Warrington  hospitality  during  the  days 
that  intervened  before  Mr.  Bertram  had  made  all  arrangements 
for  departure. 

And,  in  all  that  week,  Beatrice,  unlike  her  sex,  resolutely 
refrained  from  making  any  inquiries  regarding  Raquel.  "  He 
must  tell  me  voluntarily,"  she  decided  to  herself  during 
night  hours,  hours  which  heretofore  had  been  given  over 
to  sleep,  "  Certainly  something  has  altered  him.  He  can- 
not pretend  it  was  my  decision  in  regard  to  our  marriage. 
He  is  preoccupied  half  of  his  time,  and  his  eyes — they  seem 
to  have  absorbed  some  of  Zuiiega's  melancholy.  There  is  but 
one  explanation,  seemingly;  but  why  under  the  sun  does  he 
let  her  marry  that  old  Frenchman?" 

All  of  which  seemed  to  point  to  the  suspicion  that  Beatrice 
Warrington  was  on  the  eve  of  making  a  few  additional  discov- 
eries in  regard  to  herself  and  her  emotions. 

Saturday's  sunrise  saw  the  great  ocean  liner  at  its  dock, 
waiting  for  the  signal  to  depart.  Its  taffrail  was  lined  with 
the  faces  of  voyagers,  eager  and  indifferent ;  happy  and  sad ; 
hopeful  and  blase. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  1 89 

The  Cubans,  with  Lithgow  and  the  lawyer,  stood  looking 
down  at  the  iipturned  faces  on  the  pier.  To  Annizae's  eyes, 
the  unfamiliar,  gesticulating  multitude  seemed  half  crazed. 
Lithgow  was  watching  to  see  if  he  could  find  the  countenances 
of  Beatrice  and  her  mother,  for  Beatrice  had  wagered  that  she 
would  be  down  to  see  them  oil.  But  the  ship  moved  slowly 
out  of  the  slip  and  the  visages  on  shore  began  to  fade.  He 
waved  his  hat  gayly  at  some  of  his  friends  who  had  chartered 
a  tug,  which  was  whistling  and  puffing  strenuously  in  an  effort 
to  see  the  steamer  safely  out  of  the  harbor. 

When  fairly  en  route,  he  busied  himself  in  ensconcing  An- 
nizae  comfortably.  This  wintry  Atlantic  voyage  was  likely 
to  test  her  much  more  severely  than  the  calm,  balmy  passage 
up  from  the  Gulf  had  done,  and  he  was  anxious  that  she  .should 
suffer  as  little  as  was  possible. 

The  days  which  followed  were  such  as  belong  to  the  life  of 
one  of  the  floating  hotels  that  cross  the  deeps  so  blithely 
through  all  seasons.  Annizae  never  emerged  from  her  state- 
room until  the  morning  before  they  reached  Queenstown; 
consequently  the  men  were  left  free  to  occupy  themselves  as 
they  would. 

Zunega,  with  a  spirit  of  inquiry  of  which  Lithgow  had  not 
supposed  him  possessed,  made  himself  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  ship  and  its  workings,  and  seemed  to  derive  informa- 
tion by  absorption,  for  he  asked  few  questions,  but  appeared 
to  have  found  out  everything  that  was  worth  knowing. 

"  You  put  me  to  shame,  my  lord"  the  American  said  one  day 
facetiously. 

"  Forqu(',  scTiorV  c^uestioncd  Zuiiega  wonderingly. 

"  You  have  learned  so  much  in  the  short  time  which  has 
been  at  your  disposal.  I  might  have  been  a  walking  diction- 
ary if  I  had  half  of  your  enterprise.  To  shame  an  American 
in  the  matter  of  energy  is  quite  an  achievement,  I  assure 
you." 

"I  am  but  making  up  for  lost  time,  scuor,"  returned  Zu- 
nega. "  What  is  there  not  for  me  to  learn  if  I  am  to  succeed 
my  father?  What  must  I  not  accumulate  in  the  way  of  infor- 
mation if  I  am  to  be  of  service  to  Cuba?  It  is  well  to  know 
about  the  workings  of  an  immense  vessel  like  this.  Cuba 
may  need  such  some  day,  only  they  will  be  manned  for  war." 

"  Ah!"  murmured  Lithgow  comprehendingly.  "  If  you  will 


IQO  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

allow  me  to  play  any  part  in  the  struggle,  I  believe  that  I  will 
choose  to  follow  in  the  steps  of  those  famous  buccaneers  who 
made  the  Isle  of  Pines  their  rendezvous.  You  will  need  am- 
munition, all  of  the  paraphernalia  of  carnage.  What  could 
be  more  to  my  taste  than  to  carry  contraband  goods?  You  do 
the  fighting  and  I  can  do  the  necessary  supplying  of  munitions 
of  war.  Life  is  not  exhausted  yet!  We  will  deserve  the  ap- 
probation of  the  little  seiiorita." 

Zuiiega  threw  himself  down  on  a  coil  of  rope  sombrely. 

"  She  then  will  be  the  Seiiora  Theuriet,"  he  reminded. 
"  She  whom  you  call  Miss  Warrington  said  that  if  she  had 
been  either  of  us  she  would  have  taken  the  senorita  from  the 
Frenchman  and  have  run  away  with  her." 

Lithgow  straightened  himself  up  from  his  lounging  atti- 
tude. 

"  Oh,  did  she  talk  to  you  of  Raquel?" 

"  Once  only,  then  she  said  that  which  I  have  repeated." 

Lithgow  lapsed  into  ruminating  silence.  Zunega,  with  his 
hands  clasped  back  of  his  head,  stared  up  into  the  pale  blue 
of  the  sky.  Already  he  was  hungry  for  the  deep,  rich  tints  of 
his  birthplace.  England  could  never  hold  him,  he  said  de- 
cisively. There  was  but  one  land  in  the  world  for  him — 
Cuba. 

Sitting  abaft,  night  after  night,  chilled  by  the  sharpness  of 
this  atmosphere,  which  was  so  different  from  any  he  had 
known,  he  had  formulated  plans  that  appeared  magical,  but 
which  he  dreamed  that  he  would  be  able  to  carry  into  effect. 
From  a  youth  he  had  expanded  into  a  thinking,  reasoning 
man,  during  this  period  which  had  elapsed  since  his  passing 
out  from  the  forest.  It  seemed  to  him  that  he  had  lived  years 
upon  years  in  the  days  following  his  decision  to  forsake  the 
brigand  camp.  All  the  life  previous  was  now  like  a  dream. 
He  had  ripened  under  the  stress  of  action  as  fruit  ripens  under 
the  torrid  heat  of  noonday. 

Annizae,  convalescent  but  irritable,  and  craving  the  warmth 
of  the  tropics,  claimed  their  attention  the  next  day.  At  sun- 
down they  caught  sight  of  Fastnet,  and  at  midnight  the  mails 
were  taken  off  at  Queenstown.  The  next  morning  they  rode 
at  anchor  off  Liverpool. 

Even  Annizae  betrayed  a  trifle  of  excitement  at  the  prospect 
of  soon  setting  foot  on  the  soil  which  was  denied  her  in  years 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  19' 

past.  Both  she  and  Zuiiega,  accustomed  to  tropical  dilatori- 
ness  in  all  matters,  awaited  with  enviable  patience  the  coming 
of  the  second  tender,  while  the  two  Americans  were  irked  per- 
ceptibly. There  was  the  usual  scurry  to  get  through  the  cus- 
toms and  book  for  London  by  the  first  train. 

The  two  Cubans  exhibited  intense  curiosity  in  the  garden- 
like country  through  which  the  train  swept,  and  Zunega 
looked  with  interest  upon  the  various  parks,  turretcd  towers, 
and  magnificent  fagades,  which  Lithgow  pointed  out  to  him 
in  the  distance  as  homes  no  finer  than  his  own  was  said  to  be. 

With  American  extravagance  and  faith  in  the  power  of  ap- 
pearances, Mr.  Bertram  insisted  on  registering  at  the  Metro- 
pole  and  established  Zuiiega  in  the  finest  suite  procurable. 
Confident  that  Zunega  was  the  long-sought  heir,  he  meant  to 
spare  no  expense  in  proving  the  validity  of  the  claimant's 
rights,  even  if  the  solicitors  should  decide  that  the  proofs  were 
not  conclusive.  Taken  before  an  English  court,  he  thought 
that  the  decree  would  be  that  the  heir  to  the  ITarberton  title 
had  really  arisen ;  and  he  intended  that  Zuiiega  should  attract 
all  of  the  attention  which  his  appearance  was  sure  to  com- 
mand. Mr.  Bertram  was  full  of  excitement ;  but  he  success- 
fully concealed  it  beneath  a  most  business-like  exterior.  He 
had  notified  the  London  lawyers  that  he  thought  he  had  se- 
cured the  right  man,  but  he  had  not  apprised  them  that  he 
would  sail  on  that  steamer.  For  reasons  of  his  own,  he  wished 
to  take  them  by  surprise.     And  he  did  so. 

After  becoming  established  to  his  entire  satisfaction,  and 
thoroughly  recuperated  after  the  voyage,  he  called  a  four- 
wheeler  and,  with  his  three  companions,  was  driven  directly 
to  the  office  of  Lambert  and  Milman,  Q.  C,  Holborn. 

Zuiiega,  Annizae,  and  Lithgow  seated -themselves  in  the 
anteroom  while  Mr.  Bertram  sent  in  his  card.  Zunega  glanced 
about  him  curiously.  His  retentive  memory  took  in 'every 
detail  of  the  dingy,  vault-like  apartment.  Compared  with 
the  luxurious  appointments  of  the  American  office  buildings, 
through  which  he  had  been  escorted  by  Lithgow,  this  little 
room,  presided  over  by  a  gloomy  looking  young  man.  ap- 
peared like  a  dungeon.  He  could  scarcely  realize  that  he  was 
on  the  point  of  meeting  the  men  who  had  managed  his  father's 
business,  as  well  as  that  of  the  previous  incumbent  of  the  title. 
At  a  signal  from  the  imperious  "  Buttons,"  Mr.    Bertram 


192  A   DAUGHTER  OF  CUBA. 

went  forward  through  a  heavy  nail-studded  door  into  the 
inner  sanctum  of  Mr.  Lambert,  who,  with  surprise  on  his  fea- 
tures, stood  to  receive  him. 

"  If  you  had  notified  us  of  your  coming,  one  of  us  would 
have  met  you  at  Liverpool,  Mr.  Bertram,"  said  the  English- 
man, welcoming  his  American  colleague  warmly.  "  Mr.  Mil- 
man  has  stepped  out.  He  will  return  in  a  short  time,  no 
doubt.     You  have  brought  the  claimant  with  you?" 

"  He  is  in  the  outer  chamber,"  replied  Mr.  Bertram.  "  Shall 
I  call  him  in?" 

Visible  curiosity  shone  in  the  solicitor's  blue  eyes,  but  he 
pulled  his  nether  lip  reflectively. 

"  Perhaps  we  would  better  wait  until  Mr.  Milman  comes 
in,"  he  hesitated.  "  I  will  confess  that  we  are  anticipating 
more  than  we  ought,  possibly,  from  this  discovery  of  yours. 
I  should  not  wish  to  deprive  him  of  the  first — oh,  here  he  is ! 
Milman,  this  is  Mr.  Bertram." 

The  younger  lawyer  greeted  Mr.  Bertram  with  trenchant 
glance.  He  had  come  through  another  entrance  into  his  own 
office,  and  had  not  observed  the  occupants  of  the  anteroom. 

"  Why,  you  have  taken  us  by  surprise,  Mr.  Bertram,"  he 
exclaimed.  "  I  hope  that  your  success  of  which  you  wired  us 
has  not  proven  to  be  a  hoax !" 

"I  think  not,"  Bertram  answered  modestly.  "I  believe 
that  I  am  prepared  to  furnish  you  with  the  lost  heir  to  Har- 
berton  Towers." 

"  Will  you  tell  us  by  what  process  you  found  him?"  re- 
quested Mr.  Lambert,  settling  himself  comfortably  in  his 
leathern  chair,  and  placing  his  hands  before  him  in  an  attitude 
suggestive  of  prayer.  Mr.  Milman  took  a  seat  and  leaned 
toward  the  American  interestedly. 

"  Really,  I  did  very  little,"  confessed  Bertram.  "  A  friend 
of  mine  was  going  down  to  Cuba  on  business.  I  told  him  the 
story  and  asked  him  to  keep  his  ej'es  and  ears  open  during  his 
journeyings  through  the  interior  of  the  island.  The  detective 
whom  I  had  engaged  there  was  discovering  nothing,  and  I 
thought  this  chance  was  too  good  not  to  be  employed.  What 
the  result  was,  I  think  that  I  would  better  allow  my  friend  to 
relate  himself.  He  has  accompanied  me  over  in  order  to  do 
this.     He  is  in  the  anteroom." 

Mr.  Lambert  looked  over  his  shoulder  at  Mr.  Milman. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  I93 

"  The  claimant  is  there  also,"  he  informed  his  partner. 

>Ir.  Milman  thrust  his  fingers  with  a  degrtie  of  excitement 
through  his  rough,  bristling  hair. 

"  We  appear  to  be  getting  down  to  business,"  he  remarked. 
"  Shall  we  have  him  in?" 

"  I  think  that  you  would  understand  how  simply  it  all  has 
come  about,  if  you  were  to  hear  Mr.  Hamilton  tell  of  the  sin- 
gular circumstances  which  led  to  the  accidental  discovery  of 
the  heir,"  sv:ggested  Mr.  Bertram. 

"  !Mr.  Hamilton  is  your  friend?" 

"Yes;  he  visited  the  island  in  the  interests  of  his  firm,  a 
coffee  company." 

"  Pray  ask  him  to  enter." 

Lithgow  obeyed  the  signal  from  Bertram,  and  was  intro- 
duced to  the  judicial-appearing  English  solicitors.  In  a  rapid, 
concise  manner,  he  rehearsed  all  the  events  which  had  culmi- 
nated in  such  an  unexpected  way  for  Zuiiega.  The  lav/ycrs 
were  very  passive  at  first,  but,  as  the  story  unrolled,  their  in- 
terest and  belief  in  its  verity  increased,  until,  when  Lithgow 
finished,  they  were  enthusiastic  over  what  appeared  to  be 
success  to  all  of  their  hopes. 

"It  seems  incredible,"  commented  Mr.  Milman;  "  its  very 
simplicity  and  lack  of  complication  is  all  the  more  remark- 
able in  that  we  have  struggled  through  so  many  tanglcd-up 
affairs  during  the  years  in  which  we  have  prosecuted  this 
search.  There  have  been  other  claimants,  you  imderstand; 
they  have  been  disposed  of  satisfactorily,  however.  If  any 
difficulty  arises  now  it  will  be  because  of  those  who  believe 
themselves  to  be  the  next  of  kin,  and  they  will  resent  this 
Cuban  heir  being  brought  forward.  There  is  sure  to  be  some 
fighting  on  that  score,  but,  if  we  are  convinced  that  this  man 
is  what  you  believe  him  to  be,  we  shall  be  able  to  place  him 
in  possession  of  his  rights.     Am  I  not  correct,  Mr.  Lambert?" 

"  You  are  correct,"  bowed  the  elder  man.  "  Let  us  have 
him  in  now." 

And  Zutiega  was  summoned. 

Lithgow's  eyes  were  on  him  as  he  entered.  His  magnifi- 
cent physique  had  never  appeared  to  better  advantage  than  it 
did  at  that  moment  in  the  doorway.  His  well-set  head  was 
thrown  back  with  that  alert,  proud  air  which  was  a  part  of  his 
forest  heritage.  Framed  in  its  jet  waves,  his  gold- tinted  face, 
>3 


194  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CCBA. 

with  its  dreamy  eyes  and  firm,  scarlet  mouth,  was  startling  in 
its  impressiveness. 

Bertram's  gaze  was  fixed  on  the  countenances  of  the  Eng- 
lishmen. This  was  the  surprise  which  he  had  not  meant  to 
lose.  He  noted  the  changes  which  passed  over  their  visages 
in  quick  succession.  The  expression  which  remained,  in  spite 
of  their  facial  control,  was  one  of  astonishment  with  which 
was  mingled  satisfaction.  The  room  was  perfectly  silent  for 
a  full  minute,  while  the  two  men  leaned  forward  eagerly, 
unaware  that  they  did  so.  Then  they  turned  their  eyes  upon 
each  other,  as  if  to  ascertain  if  the  effect  had  been  the  same. 

Mr.  Lambert  was  the  first  to  recover  himself  sufficiently  to 
rise  and  extend  his  fingers  to  Zuiiega. 

"  We  are  glad  to  welcome  you,"  he  said,  with  his  eyes  still 
on  the  youth's  face.  "  This  is  Mr.  Milman.  Will  you  be 
seated?" 

Milman  shook  hands  somewhat  as  one  might  with  an  ap- 
parition, and  placed  a  chair  for  him. 

Zuiiega  looked  at  Lithgow  for  encouragement.  The  man- 
ner of  these  men  bewildered  him. 

"  You  may  desire  to  procure  an  interpreter,"  suggested  Mr. 
Bertram.  "  He  has  picked  up  a  little  English,  but  not  enough 
to  carry  on  a  conversation  of  this  nature,  while  the  woman, 
Annizae,  speaks  nothing  but  Spanish.  Of  course  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton will  act  in  the  capacity,  but  you  would  be  better  satisfied 
to  obtain  one  who  knows  nothing  of  the  story." 

"  The  suggestion  is  a  good  one,"  nodded  Mr.  Lambert,  "  but 
in  that  case  we  will  have  to  postpone  investigation.  I  confess 
that  I  am  anxious  to  waste  no  time  in  satisfying  myself  as  to 
the  reality  of  all  this.  We  can  secure  an  interpreter  for  to- 
morrow; in  the  mean  time,  may  I  inspect  the  ring  which  this 
individual  is  said  to  possess?" 

Lithgow  repeated  the  request  to  Zunega,  who  drew  the  or- 
nament from  his  hand.  Together  with  the  one  which  Lith- 
gow had  been  given  by  Bertram  on  his  departure  for  Cuba,  it 
was  placed  in  the  outstretched  palm  of  the  old  lawyer.  He 
reached  over  his  desk  for  a  strong  magnifier,  then  passed  to 
the  window  and  stood  with  his  back  toward  them.  Presentl}' 
he  called  his  partner  to  him.  They  conversed  in  cautious 
tones  that  did  not  convey  any  information  to  the  three  other 
occupants  of  the  room.      Finally  Mr.  Lambert  moved  to  a 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  195 

private  safe,  and,  after  some  peering,  brought  forth  something 
which  they  studied  together,  glancing  now  and  then  at  Zu- 
iiega  with  half-closed,  calculating  eyes. 

Under  this  trying  ordeal,  Zuiiega  sat  imperturbably.  He 
had  no  idea  what  they  were  doing.  Lithgow  was  wondering; 
Mr.  Bertram  divined,  and  found  his  conjectures  were  right 
when,  some  time  after,  he  was  summoned  to  their  side. 

Mr.  Lambert  held  a  daguerreotype  of  a  strong  English 
face,  on  which  a  dogged  self-will  was  emphatically  written. 

"  This  is  a  good  likeness  of  the  late  Lord  Harberton  after 
he  returned  from  the  Indies,"  explained  the  solicitors. 

Bertram  looked  from  it  to  them  meaningly. 

"  Other  evidence  would  scarcely  be  necessary,"  he  com- 
mented, "  though  the  eyes  are  quite  different.  This  daguerre- 
otype possesses  the  round  English  eye.  Zunega  has  the  long, 
sad  orb  that  is  said  to  belong  to  those  of  Carib  extraction.  I 
understand  that  his  mother  had  a  suspicion  of  Carib  blood." 

"  His  eyes  are  exactly  like  those  of  Lady  Harberton."  pro- 
nounced Mr.  Milman  with  decision. 

"His  face  has  the  intensity  that  is  a  characteristic  of  trop- 
ical natures,"  Bertram  continued  thoughtfully,  "  yet  it  re- 
tains the  dominant  features  that  this  picture  of  Lord  Harberton 
exhibits — chin  of  great  determination,  immense  width  of 
forehead." 

"  His  nose  is  like  his  fa—  like  Lord  Harberton's,  also,"  said 
Mr.  Lambert. 

Mr.  Milman  laughed. 

"  I  believe  that  both  of  us  are  inclined  to  agree  with  Mr. 
Bertram  and  Mr.  Hamilton  that  the  Cuban  claimant's  chances 
are  phenomenally  good,"  he  remarked,  no  longer  attempting 
to  conceal  his  pleasure. 

"  Things  as  certain  have  been  known  to  disappoint,"  warned 
the  older  lawyer,  returning  to  his  chair  and  passing  three 
rings  to  Zuiiega  for  inspection. 

"  Ask  him  to  select  his  own  from  among  them,"  he  said  to 
Lithgow. 

Zuiiega  studied  them  well,  then  handed  them  to  Lithgow 
with  a  shake  of  his  black  head. 

"  They  are  alike,"  he  said. 

Neither  Lithgow  nor  Mr.  Bertram  were  able  to  detect  dif- 
ference between  the  three. 


196  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Yet  there  is  a  decided  difference,"  Mr.  Lambert  informed 
them.  "  All  of  them  are  copies  of  the  original  ring,  which 
never  becomes  the  property  of  any  one  but  the  reigning  lord. 
It  has  a  strange  history.  No  one  ever  thinks  of  wearing  it  as 
you  wear  this,"  he  told  Zunega,  as  he  returned  to  the  youth 
his  own  ornament.  "  It  is  called  a  dangerous  possession  and 
is  employed  only  as  a  seal.  If  you  are  proven  to  be  the  heir 
to  the  Harberton  title,  you  will  become  the  owner  of  it  and 
its  unique  history.  The  ring  which  I  have  given  back  to  you 
will  belong  to  your  second  son.  You  see  the  first  son  always 
stands  the  chance  of  getting  the  original;  it  descends  to  him 
as  surely  as  the  lands.  Your  possession  of  that  ring  would 
seem  to  prove  that  your  father  was  he  whom  you  claim.  He 
was  a  fourth  son  and  he  possessed  such  a  ring.  These  others 
are  merely  perfect  copies,  made  to  assist  us  in  our  search." 

"  Does  not  the  possession  of  the  ring  prove  his  identity 
conclusively?"  questioned  Lithgow. 

Mr.  Lambert  shook  his  head. 

"  We  must  learn  beyond  all  manner  of  doubt  how  this  ring 
was  obtained,"  he  explained. 

"  That  Annizae  can  tell,"  Lithgow  declared. 

"  But  I  fear  that  we  must  have  other  susbtantiation  than 
merely  her  word." 

"  I  don't  know  how  we  are  to  procure  it,"  Bertram  said. 

"  There  is  her  own  child,"  reminded  Lithgow.  "  Could  not 
that  personage  be  employed  in  such  a  way  that  she  might  be 
betrayed  into  some  show  of  maternal  feelings?" 

"  That  would  prove  little." 

"  But  she  desires  that  he  shall  share  with  Zutiega  in  this 
matter  of  the  Harberton  fortune." 

Mr.  Lambert  lifted  his  brows  and  Mr.  Milman  smiled  in- 
scrutably, while  Lithgow  went  on  to  explain  that  the  chief 
lever  used  in  getting  her  to  England  had  been  the  sugges- 
tion that  the  place  waited  for  her  which  would  have  been 
hers  had  Lord  Harberton  married  her  instead  of  Zuiiega's 
mother. 

"  And  she  wishes  to  see  the  child  whom  she  had  no  scruples 
about  abandoning  in  his  infancy,"  commented  Mr.  Lambert. 

'■  She  does  not  consider  that  she  abandoned  him,"  corrected 
the  American  lawyer.  "  As  I  understand,  she  thought  only, 
in  her  heat  of  revenge,  of  placing  her  own  child  in  what  she 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  I97 

deemed  his  rightful  position,  and— of  breaking  the  heart  of 
the  woman  whom  she  felt  had  usurped  her." 

"  She  secured  her  desire  so  far  as  Lady  Harberton  was  con- 
cerned," returned  the  old  Englishman  slowly.  "  The  most 
beautiful  woman  that  I  ever  saw,  she  cared  nothing  for  the 
admiration  which  was  lavished  upon  her.  She  never  was 
happy  in  England,  and  mourned  unceasingly  for  her  lost 
child.  The  sight  of  the  one  which  had  been  foisted  upon  her 
never  failed  to  irritate.  It  was  a  source  of  considerable  trou- 
ble between  her  and  her  husband.  She  would  have  cast  the 
little  one  off,  but  the  justness  of  Lord  Harberton's  nature 
would  not  permit  him  to  do  that.  He  had  the  lad  well-reared 
and  gave  him  a  fine  education,  providing  him  with  a  fair 
allowance,  which  still  continues.  Certain  conditions  were 
mentioned  in  the  will,  however,  which  remain  to  be  fulfilled. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  young  fellow  does  not  conform  to 
those  conditions,  in  which  event  the  allowance  stops.  It 
would  be  much  better  for  Carlos  Vaschez  if  he  were  forced  to 
work,  and  work  hard.  He  squanders  everything.  An  invet- 
erate gambler,  the  passion  seems  to  have  been  in  him  from 
earliest  boyhood.  He  knows  nothing  about  himself.  The 
reason  for  Lord  Harberton's  interest  in  him  has  never  reached 
his  ears;  in  fact,  he  does  not  know  that  Lord  Harberton  ever 
was  interested.  All  was  intrusted  to  us.  He  is  certain  of  his 
allowance;  but,  at  the  pace  he  moves,  he  will  not  be  certain 
of  that  long." 

"  Annizae  is  very  suspicious,"  remarked  Lithgow.  "  She  is 
fearful  that  she  is  brought  over  here  for  punishment,  but  I 
have  promised  her  that,  instead  of  retribution,  she  shall  meet 
with  gain.     On  those  grounds  alone  would  she  come." 

Mr.  Lambert  closed  his  lips  very  tightly  and  worked  them 
cogitatively. 

"What  do  you  think  about  it,  Milman?"  he  questioned  at 
last.  "  Would  Lady  Harberton  rest  in  her  tomb  if  we  did  not 
see  meted  out  to  the  woman  the  punishment  that  she  de- 
vised?" 

Lithgow  had  been  translating  to  Zunega  all  that  trans- 
pired; now   Zunega  spoke  rapidly  and  earnestly  to  Lithgow. 

"  The  claimant  says  that  he  will  see  no  harm  come  to  An- 
nizae,"  Lithgow  repeated  to  the  lawyers.  "  He  considers  that 
the  one  whom  you  call  Carlos  Vaschcz  is  his  brother,  in  that 


IqS  J   DAUGHTER  OF   CUBA. 

they  had  the  same  father.  He  is  willing  to  share  with  him, 
but  he  insists  that  nothing  whatever  shall  be  done  to  Annizae. 
Rather  than  that  he  will  give  up  all  idea  of  claiming  his 
rights." 

The  lawyers  regarded  Zuiiega  with  mingled  feelings,  prin- 
cipal among  which  was  surprise. 

"  Will  he  tell  us  why  he  entertains  such  warm  affection  for 
the  person  who  not  only  deprived  him  of  all  his  heritage  but 
broke  his  mother's  heart.'"  inquired  Mr.  Lambert,  a  trifle  sar- 
castically. 

Zuniiga  turned  his  face  gravely  upon  the  questioner.  Lith- 
gow  gave  his  answer: 

"  She  wronged  me,  but  she  made  me  a  Cuban.  I  had  rather 
be  a  Cuban  than  an  Englishman." 

Both   Englishmen  smiled. 

"  Ah,  you  do  not  know  us  yet,"  replied  Mr.  Milman,  "  and — 
you  have  not  seen  Harberton  Towers." 

A  sudden  thought  seemed  to  strike  the  older  solicitor. 

"  What  do  you  say  to  a  trip  down  to  the  Towers  to-morrow, 
Milman?"  he  said  suggestively. 

"  I  don't  understand,"  confessed  Mr.  Milman.     "  Why?" 

"  I  would  like  to  see  the  effect  the  place  would  have  on  the 
woman." 

"  Oh,  you  mean  to — take  these — friends  down?" 

"  Certainly.  What  could  be  better?  There  is  a  full  length 
portrait  there  of  Lord  Harberton,  which  I  imagine  this  young 
man  will  resemble  even  more  than  he  does  the  daguerreotype ; 
and  there  are  other  reasons." 

"  It  is  a  good  idea,"  acquiesced  Mr.  Milman.  "  I  will  wire 
down  to  Wickham  to  meet  the  eleven-forty.  Will  that  be  right?" 

"  Yes,     Suppose  that  we  take  a  look  at  this  Annizae." 

Mr.  Bertram  ushered  her  in.  She  shook  with  unconquer- 
able anxiety  that  was  evidenced  in  her  bearing.  Left  alone 
in  that  outer  office,  she  had  sat  in  a  shiver  of  apprehension, 
which  rapidly  was  culminating  in  terror  when  Mr.  Bertram's 
kindly  visage  appeared.  What  awaited  her,  her  imagination 
pictured  in  colors  that  drove  the  blood  from  her  heart. 
What  she  really  encountered  when  she  faced  the  five  men 
were  simply  looks  of  keen  curiosity  on  the  part  of  the  two 
Englishmen  and  glances  of  reassurance  on  the  part  of  the 
remainder. 


A    DA  UGH  TEH   OF  CUBA.  199 

No  questions  were  asked  her.  She  was  allowed  to  main- 
tain silence,  while  arrangements  were  made  for  the  following 
day.     Her  spirits  began  to  rise  insensibly. 

Surreptitiously  she  took  two  or  three  long  breaths,  of  which 
her  fear  had  deprived  her  during  the  last  hour. 

When  Lithgow  explained  to  her  that  they  were  to  go  on 
the  morrow  to  the  place  over  which  Zuiiega's  mother  had 
reigned  as  mistress,  all  anxiety  on  her  features  gave  way  to 
an  exultation.  She  supposed  that  the  entire  matter  had  been 
settled,  and  she  was  grateful  to  the  Americano  for  keeping  his 
promise  so  well  that  not  a  query  had  been  put  to  her. 

"  Gracias  d  Dios  !  "  she  murmured  fervently.  "  Who  would 
have  thought  that  my  prayers  would  be  answered?" 


CHAPTER     XVni. 

The  members  of  Mr.  Bertram's  party  were  not  the  only 
ones  who  accompanied  the  solicitors  to  Harberton  Towers  the 
next  morning.  An  imposing  lawyer  of  title  and  a  dapper 
gentleman  who  boasted  that  he  could,  speak  seven  languages 
completed  the  group. 

Lord  Lestonbridge  inquired  occasionally  of  Mr.  Bertram 
regarding  his  country  much  as  people  interrogate  African  ex- 
plorers concerning  the  savages.  The  dapper  interpreter  oc- 
cupied himself  in  conversing  with  Zuiiega  relative  to  his  im- 
pressions of  England. 

Annizae  was  busy  peering  through  the  car  windows  at  the 
rapidly  passing  panorama  of  exquisite  country.  Suppressed 
excitement  was  visible  in  her  manner.  Again  and  again  she 
whispered  to  herself  that  over  this  ground  had  travelled  the 
woman  whom  she  had  hated.  These  fair  English  scenes  had 
been  familiar  to  the  eyes  of  Zunega's  mother.  Had  they  be- 
come hateful  to  her  because  of  her  hopeless  grief .-'  Annizae 
was  tasting  the  sweets  of  revenge. 

"Dios  cs  ^7/<f//^.'"  she  said  joyously.  Had  God  indeed  not 
brought  her  to  this  enjoyment  of  what  had  been  another's 
pain?  Her  belief  that  He  had  was  a  source  of  much  satisfac- 
tion. On  their  arrival  at  the  little  station  they  found  two  con- 
veyances in  waiting.    Lithgow,  Mr.  Milman,  Zuiiega.and  Anni- 


200  A   DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

zskQ  took  places  in  the  first.  As  it  rattled  over  the  stones  of 
the  village  street,  the  two  from  Cuba  looked  out  curiously  and 
encountered  the  questioning  gaze  of  villagers  at  windows  and 
doors. 

The  red-tiled  roofs  of  the  cottages  gave  back  the  brightness 
of  the  morning  sun ;  the  tiny  front  gardens  gloried  in  a  riot  of 
bloom. 

At  the  extreme  end  of  the  long  street  they  came  to  the  ivy- 
covered  church,  with  its  great  tower  on  which  yet  remained 
the  beacon  that  had  carried  intelligence  to  twelve  counties  in 
earlier  times.  Out  from  the  mass  of  green  gleamed  the  face 
of  the  clock. 

Zuiiega  observed  these  things  with  a  peculiar  sensation 
creeping  over  him.  How  many  times  had  the  father  whom 
he  never  had  known  looked  up  at  this  clock-face  as  he  now 
was  doing? 

"The  Harbertons  have  been  buried  here  for  centuries," 
spoke  Mr.  Milman.  "  Would  you  like  to  see  the  interior  of 
the  church?" 

"  Of  course,"  answered  Lithgow  for  Zuiiega,  "  if  we  may." 

The  cool,  damp  air,  which  seems  inseparable  from  old  Eng- 
lish edifices  of  worship,  rushed  out  and  chilled  them  as  they 
entered.  Passing  through  the  base  of  the  tower,  they  stepped 
into  the  nave.  High,  cushioned  seats  shut  in  the  aisle  which 
led  to  the  reading-desk,  back  of  which  rose  the  organ,  domed 
by  a  ceiling  frescoed  in  semblance  of  starry  heavens. 

At  the  right,  closed  in  by  iron  gates,  were  the  tombs  of 
the  Harbertons : — great  marble  sarcophagi  upon  which  the  re- 
cumbent effigies  of  the  dead  were  stretched  in  silent  majesty. 

It  was  the  first  time  that  Zuiiega  had  seen  such  pomp  and 
splendor  for  the  dead.  In  the  gloom  of  the  old  church  the 
tombs  were  more  impressive  than  those  in  the  Campo  Santo 
at  Havana.  A  certain  pride  became  his.  These  were  his 
kin!  Their  lengthy  title  was  his!  He  gazed  at  the  white 
marble  image  of  her  who  had  been  his  mother,  and  a  thrill  of 
tenderness  went  through  his  heart.  It  seemed  to  him  that  she 
looked  like  Raquel.  And,  with  that  thought,  a  great  joy 
filled  him.  Did  not  these  things  prove  that  he  indeed  was 
Raquel's  equal?  He  bent  and  touched  his  lips  to  the  white 
marble  feet. 

In  the  mean  time,  those  who  had  been  in  the  rear  had  seen 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  201 

Annizae  fly  out  of  the  church  as  if  pursued  by  the  evil  one. 
In  her  mad  rush  she  had  tripped  over  a  lo\v  gravestone,  and 
now  lay  prostrate,  groaning. 

When  once  more  placed  in  the  carriage,  she  sat  with  her 
face  buried  in  her  hands,  as  if  to  shut  out  the  sight  of  those 
white  images,  which  had  carried  such  unreasoning  terror  to 
her  heart.  Mr.  Lambert  regarded  her  with  much  interest. 
Zunega  was  unable  to  elicit  any  information  in  response  to 
his  inquiries.  She  would  not  lift  her  eyes,  and  did  not  ob- 
serve when  the  lodge  was  reached. 

The  old  keeper,  who  came  at  the  signal  to  swing  the  iron 
gates,  stood  bareheaded,  staring  with  wide  gaze  at  the  face  of 
Zimega. 

Mr.  Lambert  placed  his  hand  on  the  arm  of  the  lawyer  of 

title. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  that,  Sir  Lestonbridge?"  he  asked 
smilingly.     "  Even  old  Jepson  perceives  the  resemblance." 

"  Did  he  know  whom  you  intended  to  bring  down?"  in- 
quired Sir  Lestonbridge  cautiously. 

"No." 

"  Well,  if  this  young  fellow  really  is  the  heir,  he  will  prove 
a  valuable  addition  to  the  county.  The  Harbertons  have  al- 
ways been  in  the  House." 

"  He  will  be  a  very  eligible  parti,"  smiled  the  interpreter. 

The  carriages  moved  rapidly  through  the  park. 

"  This  is  the  place  you  have  come  so  far  to  see,  Annizae," 
said  Lithgow  remindfully. 

Annizae  lifted  her  face.  It  wore  an  expression  he  never 
had  seen  on  it  before.     He  could  not  decipher  it. 

A  broadening  expanse  of  acres,  darkened  occasionally  by 
small  forests  of  valuable  trees,  came  into  view.  When  the 
horses  swung  into  the  avenue  of  copper  beeches,  Lithgow 
could  not  repress  an  exclamation.  An  impressive  gray  pile 
of  masonry  had  become  visible.  The  magnificent  colonnade  of 
richly  hued  trees  acted  as  a  field-glass,  at  the  far  end  of  which 
arose  massive  Harberton  Towers. 

Situated  on  an  eminence  from  which  the  ground  swept 
away  grandly  to  forest  and  river,  two  ivy-girdled  towers 
jutted  out  from  the  north  and  south  extremities  of  the  many- 
windowed  favade.  Successive  generations  had  added  to  it, 
and  the  style  of  architecture  diilered.     Oriel  windows  peeped 


202  A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA. 

audaciously  at  mullioned  windows.  Two  huge  wings  ex- 
tended toward  the  rose  garden  on  the  east ;  but  these  were 
not  to  be  seen  from  the  state  entrance,  above  which  rose  a 
slender  clock-tower,  which  bore  the  Harberton  arms. 

Annizae's  eyes  opened  wide.  She  seemed  to  hold  her 
breath.  Zuiiega  was  motionless.  Spell-bound,  he  watched 
his  heritage  draw  near.  It  was  unlike  what  his  wildest  imag- 
ination had  pictured.  These  walls  appeared  to  have  stood 
there  for  ages.  He  would  enter  them  as  his  ancestors  had 
entered  them — for  a  brief  space;  then,  rest  in  the  cold  quiet 
of  the  ivy-grown  church.  Dimly  he  comprehended  the  re- 
sponsibilities which  would  be  his  with  these  lands.  No  more 
would  he  be  free  as  the  winds.  It  almost  seemed  a  bondage 
that  he  was  coming  into,  a  compact  with  the  past  and  its 
actors;  he  was  to  step  into  their  shoes,  fill  their  places,  eat 
on  their  plate.  He  shot  a  swift  glance  back  down  the  beech 
avenue.  For  the  moment  he  would  have  given  all,  Harberton 
Towers  itself,  could  he  have  found  himself  in  Cuban  forests 
and  this  a  dream;  but  the  next  instant  he  had  regained  him- 
self, with  the  thought  that  only  thus  could  he  secure  that 
which  would  enable  him  to  return  to  help  the  land  for  which 
his  heart  yearned. 

The  entrance  was  open.  Wickham,  the  butler  who  had 
served  in  the  time  of  the  former  lord,  stood  readj'  to  receive 
them. 

Zuiiega  was  conscious  of  a  tremor  as  he  stepped  from  the 
carriage,  and,  side  by  side  with  Mr.  Milman,  walked  up  the 
grassy  terrace  to  the  stone  steps.  There,  they  paused  for  the 
others  to  come  up  abreast.     Mr.  Lambert  stepped  ahead. 

"  Wickham,"  he  said  to  the  butler,  "  this  is  the  latest  claim- 
ant." 

"  Ay,  an'  'e  be  the  true  one,  sir,"  Wickham  said  with  con- 
viction, bowing  low  in  front  of  Zunega.  "  My  old  heyes  saw 
at  a  glance  that  'e  is  the  himage  of  the  lamented  Lord  'Aber- 
ton  !  " 

Mr.  Lambert  glanced  around  triumphantly  at  the  others. 
He  acted  as  if  he  were  trying  to  convince  the  Americans, 
when  it  was  himself  that  he  meant  to  convince. 

"Were  you  here,  Wickham,  when  the  late  lord  returned 
from  the  West  Indies?"  queried  Lord  Lestonbridge. 

*'  I  'ave  bean   in  this  'ouse  all  my  life,  as  I  might  say. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


203 


sir,"  replied  Wickham  proudly,  "  though  I  was  but  a  lad 
then,  sir." 

"  And  this  inan  looks  like  Lord  Harberton?" 

"  Like  both  Lord  and  Lady  'Arberton,  sir." 

Mr.  Bertram  and  Lithgow  exchanged  satisfied  glances. 

"  You  appear  to  be  willing  to  accept  him  as  genuine,  Wick- 
ham, if  no  one  else  is,"  smiled  Mr.  Milman. 

"  Perhaps  there  be  one  who  will  see  as  I  see,  sir,"  Wick- 
ham said,  struck  with  a  sudden  thought,  as,  from  in  front  of 
the  great  hall  fire-place  where  he  had  been  lying,  a  hound 
raised  himself  dignifiedly  and  moved  inquiringly  toward  them. 
"Beppo!  Beppo,  come  'ere!" 

The  beautiful  creature  advanced,  contemplating  the  new- 
comers critically. 

"  Who  be  this,  Beppo?"  Wickham  demanded,  touching  Zu- 
iiega  deferentially  on  the  arm  to  call  the  dog's  attention  to 
the  stalwart  figure. 

Beppo  obeyed  by  appearing  to  study  with  intent  intelli- 
gence the  face  of  the  man  thus  indicated.  Suddenly,  unex- 
pectedly, he  raised  himself  and  placed  his  paws  on  Zufiega's 
breast,  bringing  his  own  nose  in  close  proximity  to  Zuiiega's. 
The  Cuban  had  stepped  backward  with  surprise.  The  ca- 
nines he  had  seen  roaming  through  the  streets  of  Cuban  cities 
were  more  like  the  dogs  of  Constantinople  than  this  wise- 
faced  creature,  who  seemed  to  know  as  much  or  more  than 
himself.  There  was  something  almost  pathetic  in  the  ani- 
mal's examination  of  his  features.  Watching  with  some 
amazement,  the  group  remained  silent.  The  human  expres- 
sion in  the  dog's  eyes  was  touching;  it  held  anxiety,  curi- 
osity, wonderment,  all  that  any  features  possibly  could  voice 
without  words.  As  if  not  satisfied,  he  dropped  to  his  feet, 
walked  twice  around  Zuiiega,  then  resumed  his  position  of 
inquisitor,  as  if  he  were  striving  to  recall  some  almost  for- 
gotten remembrance. 

Zufiega  suddenly  realized  that  this  dog  had  known  his 
father,  possibly  had  missed  him.  There  was  a  strange  com- 
fort in  the  belief  that  the  animal  recognized  something  fa- 
miliar in  him,  who  never  had  set  foot  within  these  walls. 
Scarcely  aware  that  he  did  so,  he  smiled  into  the  creature's 
great,  brown  eyes.  Instantly,  Beppo  dropped  to  his  feet  and 
thrust  his  nose  into  Zufiega's  half-closed  hand. 


204  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  See  that?  'E  knows!"  declared  Wickham  decidedly.  " 'E 
never  was  far  from  the  side  of  my  master.  Since  my  lord 
died,  Beppo  never  'as  bean  the  same.  'E  grieved  like  a 
babby  for  months,  'e  did,  sir." 

Zufiega  caressed  Beppo  tenderly.  When  he  smiled,  the 
dog  pressed  closer  to  him. 

"  'E  'as  my  lady's  smile,"  Wickham  commented  to  Mr. 
Lambert.     "Beppo  was  fond  of  my  lady." 

"  It  is  a  pity  that  Wickhara's  and  the  dog's  recognition 
would  not  be  considered  sufficient  in  law,"  said  Mr.  Milman  to 
the  others.  "  This  was  a  confirmation  which  we  had  not 
thought  of  looking  for.  Will  you  permit  me  to  take  the  keys, 
Wickham?  Other  people  besides  yourself  remain  to  be  con- 
vinced. We  came  down  to  go  over  the  house.  We  wish  him 
to  see  what  will  be  his  if  he  is  what  he  thinks  he  is." 

Wickham  yielded  up  the  keys  reluctantly.  It  was  one  of 
his  delights  to  lead  a  procession  over  the  house,  through  room 
after  room,  up  staircase  after  staircase  of  this  massive  struc- 
ture, in  the  care  of  which  he  had  been  foremost  servant  for  so 
many  years.  To  be  deprived  of  watching  the  effect  produced 
on  this  one,  whom  he  already  considered  the  prospective  mas- 
ter, was  a  hardship  indeed.  He  stood  and  surve^-ed  Zuiiega 
as  he  followed  after  the  lawyer  with  the  dog  closely  pressing 
his  side. 

**  If  that  do  not  tell  them,  what  will  ?  "  he  queried  to  him- 
self. "Beppo  hain't  done  that  way  since  the  master  died;  not 
even  to  me  'e  hain't  done  so,  me  that  'e  knows  better  than  'e 
knows  'isself  !  " 

With  pride  that  grew,  Zunega  took  in  with  comprehensive 
glances  the  details  of  the  hall,  dark  with  age-rich  panelled 
oak.  Trophies  of  the  chase  adorned  its  walls;  armor  gave 
back  the  flash  of  the  sunlight;  mailed  knights,  halberd  in 
hand,  appeared  to  stand  guard  over  this  vast  home  which 
awaited  the  coming  of  a  master.  Looking  up,  he  could  see 
them  on  the  landings  of  the  grand  staircase,  up  which  four 
horses  could  have  been  driven  abreast.  Through  the  oppo- 
site windows  the  leafless  rose-garden  was  visible  and  the 
smooth  lawn  stretching  to  the  river.  To  what  a  beautiful 
home  had  his  mother  been  brought! 

"I  think  that  I  will  show  you  the  marble  hall  first,"  said 
Mr.  Milman,  ushering  the  way.     "  More  royal  legs  have  been 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  205 

stretched  under  this  board  than  under  any  other  in  England 
in  times  past,  I  will  wager,"  he  added,  thumping  the  massive 
banqueting  table  with  his  knuckles.  "  Some  of  these  family 
portraits  are  by  Lely.  Wickham  has  the  whole  thing  by 
heart.  This  wonderfully  carved  screen  at  the  end  over  the 
great  fireplace  is  where  the  musicians  have  been  concealed 
while  royalty  disported  itself  gayly." 

Zuiiega  looked  about  at  the  tapestried  walls,  without  real- 
izing the  historical  value  of  what  he  viewed.  To  him  it  was 
all  very  magnificent.  There  had  been  nothing  in  his  experi- 
ence with  which  he  could  compare  it.  Annizae  stepped  along 
W'ith  a  sense  of  her  own  insignificance.  She  was  overpowered 
by  the  surrounding  grandeur.  She  glanced  at  Zunega  and 
secretly  marvelled  that  he  appeared  to  be  so  at  home  in  the 
midst  of  it.  Lithgow  and  Mr,  Bertram  gave  free  vent  to  their 
unbounded  admiration. 

Mr.  Milman  unlocked  a  door  near  the  fireplace.  This  re- 
vealed a  flight  of  steps  which  conducted  them  into  a  broad, 
upper  hall.  From  this  they  passed  through  the  state  drawing- 
rooms.  These  apartments  were  filled  with  curios  from  all 
quarters  of  the  globe,  and  seemed  replete  with  romances,  in 
which  the  actors  had  been  the  personages  whose  painted  sem- 
blances looked  down  upon  them  from  the  high  walls. 

"  How  delighted  Mrs.  Warrington  would  be  with  these 
'ancestral  halls'!"  exclaimed  Lithgow  to  Zunega.  "  I  cannot 
realize  that  they  belong  by  right  to  you." 

"  It  is  a  dream!"  replied  Zunega  softly,  but  his  eyes  shone. 
"  What  would  I  not  give  if  the  seiiorita  could  see !  She  was 
meant  for  such  a  place — no?  When  it  all  is  mine,  I  would  be 
able  to  pay  her  father's  debts,  is  it  not  so?  But  it  is  too 
late!     I  only  may  fight  for  the  country  she  loves!" 

Mr.  Milman  was  holding  back  a  tapestry  behind  which  the 
others  had  disappeared  as  if  by  magic.  He  looked  smilingly 
at  Zuiiega's  face,  lighted  with  a  fire  that  was  not  pride  of 
possession,  as  the  lawyer  supposed. 

"  He  will  enjoy  these  things  that  seem  to  be  claiming  him," 
Mr.  Milman  remarked  to  Lithgow. 

"  Perhaps,"  admitted  Lithgow,  "but,  unless  I  am  mistaken, 
they  will  irk  him.  He  is  accustomed  to  freedom.  He  will 
have  to  be  trained  to  bend  his  back  and  brain  to  the  cares  that 
weigh  upon  a  master  and  a  landlord." 


2o6  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Most  people  would  deem  such  cares  agreeable  ones,"  com- 
mented the  Englishman. 

"  But  they  have  not  known  what  it  was  to  be  a  Cuban  brig- 
and," returned  Lithgow  laughingly,  passing  behind  the  tapes- 
try and  through  a  sliding  panel,  which  disclosed  another  flight 
of  steps.  "  This  savors  of  kingly  escapes.  I  suppose  these 
walls  could  tell  strange  tales." 

"  Indeed  they  could,"  Mr.  Milman  answered  enthusiasti- 
cally. "  This  is  the  secret  entrance  to  the  chapel.  Many  an 
ear  has  listened  to  prayers  here  while  the  worshippers  have 
gone  through  the  service  little  dreaming  of  the  secret  audi- 
tor. Many  were  the  ones  who  were  sheltered  in  the  hidden 
passages  of  this  house  until  the  hour  of  political  danger  was 
past." 

Mounting  the  steps  they  emerged  into  the  gallery  of  the 
chapel.  Right  in  the  centre  of  the  building,  it  had  as  solemn 
and  impressive  an  atmosphere  as  if  it  stood  alone.  Softly 
tinted  windows  cast  refulgence  over  everything. 

Annizae's  countenance  was  a  study.  She  was  confused  by 
the  magnitude  of  the  dwelling.  She  began  to  understand 
why  she  and  her  child  had  been  left  in  Cuba.  Robert  Percival 
had  known  that  she  would  not  be  fitted  to  rule  in  such  a  place 
as  this.  She  found  herself  wondering  what  the  other  woman 
from  Cuba  had  felt  when  she  had  been  led  over  the  same 
ground.  There  had  been  the  poison  of  loss  to  embitter  every- 
thing for  her,  Annizae  remembered.  She  rejoiced  to  feel  that 
life  here  had  not  been  all  happiness  for  her  beautiful  rival. 
She  was  oppressed  by  the  richness  of  the  objects  she  looked 
upon.  She  thought  with  tenderness  of  the  utter  freedom  of 
the  forest  life.  Wickham's  pale  blue  eye,  with  its  trained 
stare,  had  appalled  her  more  than  anything  that  she  5'et  had 
encountered.  His  friendliness  for  Zuiiega  had  not  extended 
to  her.  He  had  glanced  her  over  from  head  to  feet,  and  that 
glance  had  reduced  her  more  in  her  own  estimation  than  even 
the  magnificence  which  followed. 

On  their  way  from  the  chapel  to  the  library  they  passed 
down  a  long  corridor,  on  one  side  of  which  there  were  great 
windows  which  overlooked  the  park.  The  opposite  wall  was 
hung  with  genealogical  charts  and  a  few  portraits.  It  was  to 
come  into  the  corridor  from  that  end  that  Mr.  Milman  and 
Mr.  Lambert  had  planned  the  circuitous  route  which  had  been 


A  DA  UGHTER    OF   CUBA.  207 

taken.  To  prevent  any  information  being  given  save  that 
which  they  desired  to  give  themselves,  they  had  chosen  to 
dispense  with  the  services  of  Wickham, 

Suddenly  Annizae  gave  a  sharp  cry. 

All  turned  simultaneously  to  see  what  had  brought  it  forth. 
Mr.  Lambert  and  Mr.  Milman  looked  at  each  other  with  signi- 
ficant glances  that  were  full  of  satisfaction.  Annizae  had 
darted  before  the  portrait  of  a  most  beautiful  woman. 

"  Ah,  I  made  you  suffer— suffer !"  she  cried  fiercely  in  Span- 
ish. "  I  had  my  revenge !  Is  it  not  so?  Did  I  not  wring  blood 
from  your  heart?  You  came  here  in  my  stead,  but— had  you 
ever  a  moment's  joy?" 

All  of  the  evil  passions  of  the  mortal  seemed  warring  in 
her  face.  She  fairly  was  beside  herself  with  the  intoxication 
of  revenge. 

The  interpreter  repeated  her  words  to  the  group.  They 
observed  her  intently,  while  she  appeared  oblivious  of  any 
presence  save  her  own  and  that  which  seemed  to  be  in  the 
unanswering  picture.  There  was  no  gainsaying  Annizae's 
recognition.  She  stood  before  it  in  the  attitude  of  a  judge 
administering  sentence.  Triumphantly  she  rehearsed  the 
entire  story  of  taking  Zuiiega  from  the  ship  and  the  subse- 
quent flight  into  the  mountains.  She  gave  the  details  that 
filled  the  weeks  immediately  following  the  sailing  of  the  ves- 
sel. She  confessed  frankly  that,  at  first,  she  had  little  care 
whether  the  child  died  or  lived.  But  by  degrees  her  heart 
had  grown  tender  toward  him.  After-thoughts  brought  her 
fear  that  they  might  not  do  for  her  own  child  any  better  than 
she  did  for  theirs,  so,  with  a  vague  idea  of  winning  kindness 
for  her  deserted  infant,  she  had  vouchsafed  better  treatment 
to  the  one  she  had  abducted.  She  related  how  they  had 
drifted  from  one  part  of  the  island  to  the  other.  She  had 
been  in  the  tobacco  fields  of  the  Vuelta  Abajo;  she  had 
picked  coffee  for  planters;  finally  she  had  become  a  member 
of  a  nomadic  band  that  plundered  for  subsistence ;  and  later 
she  had  merged  her  fortunes  with  those  of  the  notorious 
Gonzalo  Alarcon,  the  terror  of  the  country.  She  had  grown 
proud  of  Zuiiega  with  the  passage  of  years.  The  memory 
of  her  hatred  for  his  parents  had  faded  somewhat.  When 
she  remembered,  she  joyed  in  the  thought  that  of  their 
heir  she  had  succeeded  in  making  a  brigand,  whose  only  re- 


2o8  A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA. 

treat  was  the  fastnesses  of  the  forests.  The  solicitors  had  not 
dreamed  of  such  an  unrestricted  outpouring.  They  had  ex- 
pected to  drag  the  history  from  her  by  adroit  questionings. 
This  impassioned  confession  kept  them  silent.  They  did  not 
even  look  at  each  other  for  fear  that  they  might  miss  some  of 
the  life  drama  which  was  being  told  to  the  wonderful  eyes 
which  gazed  forth  from  the  frame  on  the  wall.  They  were 
eyes  that  looked  at  one  from  whatever  point  of  view.  To  the 
English  lawyers  they  seemed  to  be  appealing  that  punish- 
ment should  be  made  to  fall  upon  this  offender  who  gloried  so 
unrighteously  in  her  crime.  To  Annizae  they  seemed  to  be 
suffering.  To  Zunega  they  seemed  to  be  peering  deep  into 
his  heart  with  yearning  love,  and  for  the  first  time  he  under- 
stood what  it  was  that  he  had  been  deprived  of  all  these  5'ears 
during  which  he  had  been  growing  slowly  to  manhood.  With 
his  own  face  upturned  to  the  tenderness  which  appeared  to 
radiate  from  the  exquisite  one  above,  he  presented  a  picture 
which  quickly  attracted  the  attention  of  the  others.  Annizae 
herself  suddenly  turned  toward  him. 

"  Mira!"  she  cried  imperiously,  pointing  from  the  face  of 
Lady  Harberton  to  his  features.  "  He  has  her  eyes,  her 
smile!  I  thought  he  might  look  like  his  father,  but — it  was 
my  punishment  never  to  be  able  to  see  anything  but  her  ex- 
pression." She  shivered,  then  went  on  wildly:  "Have  I  not 
hated  him  because  of  that?  Sometimes,  even  now,  I  hate 
him.  Think  you  I  would  have  returned  him  had  it  not  been 
for  the  hopes  of  this  very  moment,  when  I  could  speak  these 
words  that  I  speak  which  tear  her  soul  even  though  she  be  in 
bliss?  Yet  now,  after  all,  she  seems  to  triumph  over  me ! 
Her  eyes  are  crying :  'He  is  not  yours!  You  have  had  to  give 
him  back  to  me,  Brown  Annizae!  You  could  no  longer  keep 
him  in  ignorance  of  what  was  his.  *  Ah,  I  was  a  fool !  Had  I 
not  given  him  that  ring,  none  ever  would  have  learned  my 
secret.  He  would  have  been  ever  what  he  was — an  outlaw. 
But  it  was  the  judgment  of  God.  It  was  meant  that  I  should 
come  to  these  walls  to  which  he  would  not  bring  me.  It  is 
something  to  be  here  in  spite  of  him  and  know  that  he  cannot 
keep  me  away,  for  death  is  stronger  than  his  hate  !" 

She  moved  on  with  a  rapidity  that  had  an  object.  She 
scanned  the  portraits  as  she  passed.  The  others  followed. 
She  halted  before  the  full-length  picture  of  a  man  to  whom 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  209 

Zunega  was  seen  to  bear  a  striking  resemblance.  Mr.  Lam- 
bert pointed  to  it  silently.  It  was  the  portrait  which  he  had 
seen  fit  to  mention  in  the  office. 

She  laughed  up  into  the  English  countenance  tauntingly. 

"  Thou  wouldst  not  have  believed  that  Brown  Annizae  could 
have  followed  thee  after  all  these  years!"  she  exclaimed  fa- 
miliarly. "  Thou  didst  little  think  that  she  would  come  to 
live  in  the  home  to  which  thou  didst  bring  Zuiiega's  mother! 
Didst  thou  forget  that  Dios  is  just?  Annizae  was  a  fool  when 
she  believed  that  thou  didst  love  her.  She  was  no  fool  when 
she  took  thy  child,  thy  ring,  thy  face !" 

With  a  smile  on  her  countenance,  she  extricated  something 
hidden  beneath  her  handkerchief.  They  watched  her  with 
absorbing  interest.  Her  garb  made  her  appear  fantastic,  but 
the  expression  of  her  eyes  was  tragic  and  gave  her  a  dignity 
which  all  respected.  She  drew  a  reliquary  from  where  it  had 
been  concealed.  That  it  contained  more  than  a  bit  of  a 
padre's  blessing  her  eager  fingers  suggested.  Each  pressed 
forward  to  ascertain  what  the  object  was. 

Zuiiega  appeared  the  most  surprised  of  any  when  she  held 
up  a  small  gold  ornament,  evidently  a  locket,  heavy  of  de- 
sign. On  one  side  of  it  the  Harberton  crest  was  poorly  en- 
graved and  was  worn  nearly  smooth.  So  clumsy  was  the 
workmanship  that  it  was  easy  to  perceive  at  a  glance  that  it 
was  capable  of  being  opened.  Zuiiega  took  it  from  her  grasp 
and  pried  it  apart  with  his  thumbnail.  Annizae  made  no  ob- 
jection. She  simply  looked  down  at  what  was  revealed  with 
an  imreadable  expression  on  her  visage.  I'he  miniature 
which  the  locket  contained  was  of  the  identical  personage 
whose  portrait  hung  above  them.  Exclamations  that  were 
not  to  be  suppressed  were  the  result  of  this  discovery.  This 
reticence  of  years  thus  brought  to  light  provoked  reluctant 
admiration.  Zunega  studied  earnestly  the  face  that  the  orna- 
ment held.  There  was  that  in  the  candid,  bine  eyes  that 
seemed  to  call  for  defence  from  the  bitter  words  of  this 
woman;  yet  Zunega  knew  of  no  defence.  His  mind  went 
with  liglitning  rapidity  over  his  own  life.  He  saw  two  pictures 
compared:  what  he  might  have  been — a  landed  proprietor  to 
v/hom  life  held  no  great  interest  beyond  the  task  of  keeping 
all  that  he  had  accumulated ;  and  what  he  was — a  nomad  at 
heart,  throbbing  with  the  thoughts  of  the  massive  undcrtak- 
14 


210  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

ing  with  which  he  had  become  identified  and  which  was  des. 
lined  to  achieve  a  nation's  freedom.  He  turned  his  gaze  upon 
Annizae. 

"  Was  this  my — mother's?"  he  demanded  sternly. 

Annizae  nodded.  She  felt  herself  tremble.  There  was 
that  in  his  face  now  which  made  it  difficult  to  acknowledge 
her  obliquity  to  him. 

"  Thou  didst  steal  it?" 

"  I  had  nothing  else,"  she  answered  doggedly.  "  Was  it  not 
little  enough  that  I  should  try  to  keep  his  face,  that  I  might 
not  forget  my  wrong?" 

"  Thou  hast  kept  this  a  secret  for  long,  long  years — for  love 
or  hatred,  perhaps  thou  didst  not  know  which,"  he  said,  look- 
ing into  her  eyes  fixedly.  "  Thou  still  shalt  keep  it."  He 
laid  the  locket  back  in  her  brown  hand. 

Annizae's  visage  altered.    She  had  expected  other  than  this. 

"  It  is  thine,"  she  faltered.     "  It  was  hers." 

Zufiega  was  sorely  tempted  to  take  it  again,  but  he  re- 
frained. 

"  Unwittingly  thou  gavest  me  much  that  compensates  for 
what  thou  didst  rob  me  of;  because  of  thee,  I  am  a  Cuban, 
linked  heart  and  soul  to  the  island's  hope." 

"  But  you  are  as  much  an  Englishman  as  a  Cuban,"  expos- 
tulated Mr.  Lambert,  when  he  was  told  what  Zunega  had 
spoken. 

"  One  thing  I  know,"  returned  Zuiiega,  with  his  hand  on  the 
head  of  the  dog,  which  still  lingered  by  his  side ;  "  I  will  make 
a  good  Cuban  revolutionist ;  I  do  not  know  if  I  shall  make  as 
satisfactory  an  Englishman." 

"  We  will  strive  to  train  you  into  one,"  declared  the  lawyer. 
"  Never  has  there  been  a  Harberton  who  was  not  an  enthu- 
siastic lover  of  the  land  of  his  ancestors.  We  will  have  to 
find  some  pretty  English  lassie  to  teach  you  fealty  to  Eng- 
^nd.  Mr.  Milman,  do  you  not  think  that  we  may  announce 
that  we  consider  him  the  rightful  heir?  He  should  be  in- 
vested with  the  name  of  Robert  Deene  Percival  and  respond 
to  it  until  that  day  when  publicly  he  is  proclaimed  to  be 
Lord  Harberton  and  master  of  these  wide  lands  and  gray 
walls." 

Mr.  Milman  stepped  at  once  in  front  of  Zuiiega  and  bowed 
gravely. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  211 

"  Robert  Percival,  permit  us  to  say  that  we  are  glad  to 
serve  you  as  we  served  your  father.  To  those  who  are  here 
now  I  present  you  as  the  one  whom  we  believe  to  be  the  lost 
son  of  the  late  Lord  Harberton.  May  this  house  soon  see  you 
established  within." 

Zutiega  glanced  over  his  shoulder  for  Lithgow. 

"  I  owe  it  all  to  you,  my  friend,"  he  said  softly. 

Lithgow  disclaimed  all  gratitude. 

"  Whatever  you  owe  is  to  the  Seiiorita  Raquel,"  he  said  in  a 
low  tone.  "  She  awakened  you  to  a  sense  of  true  manhood 
and  its  possibilities.  It  was  the  obeying  of  your  noble  im- 
pulse that  brought  you  to  your  own." 

"  The  impulse  was  purely  selfish,"  replied  Zuiiega  honestly. 
"  I  returned  her  to  the  plantation  because  I  could  not  see  her 
the  victim  of  Alarcon.  I  deserve  no  reward  like  this  which 
has  come." 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

Things  had  transpired  so  much  more  quickly  and  satisfac- 
torily than  the  most  sanguine  of  lawyers  could  have  antici- 
pated that  it  almost  seemed  that  the  work  of  restoring  Zu- 
iiega to  his  rights  had  been  completed.  Mr.  Milman  saw  fit 
to  treat  Zuiiega  as  if  no  delays  or  intricacies  of  law  courts  lay 
before  them,  and  even  addressed  him  occasionally  by  his  title 
in  order  to  accustom  him  to  it,  as  he  explained  to  his  more 
conservative  partner.  Moreover,  he  insisted  on  showing  the 
youth  the  entire  inhiage. 

In  obedience  to  orders  received  the  day  previous,  Wickham 
had  prepared  a  ceremonious  luncheon,  of  which  all  partook  in 
the  breakfast  room,  which  Mr.  Lambert  said  had  been  the 
most  cheery  apartment  of  the  whole  house  during  the  occu- 
pancy of  Zuiiega's  father.  It  opened  with  great  windows  out 
on  the  rose  garden,  which,  though  bare  and  rather  desolate  at 
this  time  of  year,  revealed  what  a  famous  gardener  the  Towers 
possessed.  This  individual,  a  grumpy  Scotchman,  Zunega 
encountered  on  a  visit  to  the  mews.  The  argumentative  eyes 
peered  out  from  under  their  bushy  gray  brows  at  the  mus- 
cular form  which  kept  pace  with  Mr.  Milman  on  a  tour  of  the 
premises.     He  had  received  no  intimation  of  the  coming  of 


21  a  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

this  troupe  of  sightseers;  he  had  heard  nothing  of  Wickham's 
convictions  regarding  Zuiaega's  identity.  In  fact,  few  people 
ever  had  the  temerity  to  inform  old  Grahame  of  anything, 
for  he  never  had  been  known  to  admit  ignorance  or  lack  of 
perception  on  any  subject.  This  peculiarity  was  well  known 
to  Mr.  Milman,  and  he  sought  to  exhibit  it  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Americans  who  were  accompanying  him. 

"  Well,  Grahame,"  he  saluted,  as  they  approached  the  gar- 
dener, who  was  partially  concealed  behind  a  group  of  leafless 
rhododendrons,  from  which  point  of  vantage  he  studied  the 
new  comers.  "  I've  brought  some  strangers  to  see  if  they  can 
discover  your  secret  of  making  the  roses  of  the  Towers  the 
finest  in  England." 

"  I  sepad  they  are  han'  an'  glove  wi'  the  Almighty  'f  they 
expect  t'  divine  His  works,"  responded  Grahame  calmly,  going 
on  with  his  labors. 

"  Perhaps  you  are  better  than"  they  at  the  divining  busi- 
ness," smiled  the  lawyer.  "  I  am  going  to  ask  you  if  you  can 
tell  who  is  this  gentleman  who  comes  to  make  your  acquaint- 
ance." 

Grahame  lifted  his  head.     He  looked  at  Zuiaega  squarely. 

"  There's  sma'  need  o'  me  t'  telt  ye,  Mr.  Milman,  'at  what  I 
ken.  Spier  the  mon  himsel'.  By  his  wy  o'  carryin'  his  heid, 
ye  micht  ken  'at  the  bluid  o'  the  Harbertons  runs  in  his  veins." 

"  Bravo !  Bravo !"  cried  the  lawyer.  "  I'll  never  doubt  your 
powers  again,  Grahame.  I  am  converted  forever.  Unless  all 
signs  fail,  this  man  is  the  new  master,  son  of  Lord  Harberton." 

"  I  ken  'at  too,  or  I  ha'  nae  een,"  replied  the  gardener, 
humbling  himself  enough  to  ptill  his  forelock  of  grizzled  hair 
to  the  coming  lord.  His  sharp  eyes  summed  Zuiiega  up  with 
a  satisfied  conclusion  which  he  uttered  to  himself  after  they 
had  gone  on : 

"  It's  nae  'at  richt  seempl  body  as  wull  interfere  wi'  ma 
roses.  I  can  win'  him  'roound  ma  feenger  or  ma  name's  no 
Sandy  Grahame.  Be  he  lord  or  be  he  no,  I  wull  grow  ma 
roses  as  I  like." 

Out  past  the  walls  where  were  trained  the  pear  and  peach 
trees  flat  against  the  bricks  like  nmning  vines;  through  the 
deserted  walks  that  led  down  to  the  river  where  stood  the  old 
manor  house,  ivy-grown;  around  by  the  edge  of  the  forest 
from  which  the  soft  eyes  of  deer  shone  forth  timidly ;  back 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  213 

through  the  rustling,  dead  bracken  into  the  park  and  the  long 
avenue  of  limes,  not  yet  shrouded  with  their  spring-time 
fragrance,  the  solicitor  led  Zunega  and  the  two  Americans. 

Zunega  was  silent.  After  the  wanton  luxuriance  of  tropical 
growth,  this  bare,  bleak  English  country  just  escaping  from 
the  grasp  of  a  severe  winter  seemed  chceiiess.  The  grandeur 
of  the  rambling  house  filled  him  with  admiration  and  pride, 
but,  he  had  no  words  of  praise  to  bestow  upon  stark,  ghostly 
trees  that  possessed  no  beauty  for  him. 

The  Americans,  who  knew  what  the  scene  would  be  when 
clothed  with  the  verdure  of  summer,  were  loud  in  their  ex- 
pressions of  pleasure. 

Mr.  Milman  glanced  often  at  Zuiiega  in  vv^onderment.  He 
was  disappointed.  He  thought  the  Cuban  very  unapprecia- 
tive. 

Lithgow  read  the  thought  of  both  of  them  and  endeavored 
to  explain  matters. 

When  Zuiiega  spoke,  he  asked : 

"  My  mother, — was  she  happy  here?" 

"I  fear  not,"  responded  Mr.  Milman.  "But  you  must  re- 
member that  she  mourned  your  loss." 

Zunega  shivered.  He  looked  down  the  row  of  great  tree- 
trunks  to  where  the  dull  sun  was  sinking,  sending  up  a  pyro- 
technical  display  that  was  brilliant  without  appearing  in  any 
degree  warm. 

"  She  must  have  hungered  for  the  greenness  and  the  soft 
warmth  of  Cuba !"  he  sighed.  "  I  wonder  that  your  hearts  do 
not  freeze  here.  Annizac  will  die  if  she  can  not  return  to  the 
island." 

"  She  appears  to  be  intending  to  take  up  her  residence  here," 
remarked  Mr.  Milman.  "  I  am  afraid  that  the  county  ladies 
would  not  care  to  accept  the  hospitality  of  Harbcrton  Towers 
from  her  hands."  He  spoke  half-jcstingly.  He  knew  that 
some  other  home  than  Harberton  Towers  must  be  hers. 
Where  that  homq  would  be,  time  would  determine.  "  If  she 
desires  to  go  back  to  Cuba,  it  might  be  the  best  thing,  after 
everything  is  settled.  Such  affairs  are  generally  slow  in 
being  arranged,  though  neither  Mr.  Lambert  nor  myself  sec 
why  this  should  drag." 

Zunega  was  cnrions  to  learn  how  mucli  ready  money  would 
become  his,  and  what  restrictions  were  placed  upon  his  cm 


214  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

ploying  it,  but,  he  restrained  himself  from  questioning  even 
Mr.  Bertram.  As  they  went  back  to  the  house,  he  fell  behind 
and  walked  with  Lithgow. 

"  I  feel  as  if  t^is  were  a  prison,  setior  mio"  he  whispered. 
"  The  fingers  of  these  trees  seem  to  shake  themselves  at  me 
when  the  chill  wind  blows  through  them,  and  I  hear  them 
say:  'You  are  doomed  to  a  life  spent  here  among  us.  Never 
again  shall  you  know  the  wonderful  sweetness  of  southern 
breezes.  You  will  be  tied  here  to  look  after  people  who  do 
not  need  you.'  You  must  stay  with  me,  my  friend.  I  never 
will  consent  to  be  left  alone  in  this  land." 

"  Oh,  you  have  become  accustomed  to  nothing,  as  yet,"  re- 
assured the  American.  "  When  you  can  speak  more  English 
and  have  become  acquainted  at  the  clubs,  life  will  wear  a  dif- 
ferent aspect.  You  will  not  have  to  live  here.  You  can  make 
your  home  in  London.  After  a  week  of  initiation  you  will  be 
surprised  to  discover  how  fascinating  London  can  be.  You 
will  suffer  no  lack  of  attention,  I  can  promise.  Your  pleasures 
will  be  provided  for  you,  if  you  choose  to  accept  them.  You 
are  homesick  just  as  this  moment.  English  landscape  under 
a  wintry  sky  is  not  cheerful,  but  you  have  no  idea  what  the 
same  scene  is  when  spring  has  breathed  upon  it.  You  will 
see  bud  and  blossom  bursting  forth,  and  you  will  feel  a  stirring 
within  your  own  veins  that  will  convince  you  that  all  of  your 
Cuban  fire  has  not  been  extinguished.  All  I  fear  is  that  you 
will  become  so  intoxicated  with  the  charms  of  the  land  of  your 
father  that  you  will  forget  Cuba  and — "  He  did  not  complete 
the  sentence. 

Zuiiega's  sombre  orbs   blazed  into  sudden  life. 

He  placed  his  fingers  on  Lithgow's  arm  and  waited  until 
the  American  looked  at  him. 

"  When  I  forget,  seiwr,  I  shall  be  dead,"  he  said  solemnly. 

On  re-entering  the  hall,  they  found  that  Wickham  had 
thrown  open  the  apartments  which  had  been  occupied  by  Lord 
and  Lady  Harberton.  There,  in  what  was  called  the  red 
drawing-room,  Annizae  sat,  a  picture  of  doleful  triumph. 
Around  her  stood  writing-tables  bearing  the  stationery  of 
the  house;  overflowing  bookcases;  luxurious  chairs  that 
tempted.  Everywhere  were  signs  of  home-life.  Wickham 
explained  that  the  rooms  had  been  left  as  they  were  at  the 
time   of  the  death  of   Lord   Harberton.     In  looking  about, 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  215 

Lithgow  discovered  a  work-basket  from  the  recesses  of  which 
he  extracted  a  bit  of  feminine  fancy  embroidery.  He  held  it 
up  before  Mr.  Lambert  inquiringly. 

"  Lady  Harberton  had  that  in  her  hands  when  I  last  saw 
her,"  the  solicitor  said  reverentially.  "The  late  lord  never 
would  permit  it  to  be  touched.  He  kept  it  ever  by  his  side. 
He  was  passionately  devoted  to  his  wife.  I  scarcely  was  sur- 
prised that  he  did  not  long  survive  her,  yet  he  was  a  healthy 
man,  judging  from  appearances.  It  grates  upon  me  to  see 
this  woman,  who  brought  them  such  pain,  sitting  here  calmly 
amid  their  surroundings." 

"  Perhaps  her  son  would  like  to  take  her  and  provide  for 
her,"  suggested  Lithgow,  humorously  seeking  a  solution  of 
the  problem  as  to  what  should  be  done  with  Annizae.  "  She 
is  anxious  to  see  him.  I  believe  that  she  almost  expected  to 
find  him  here." 

Mr.  Lambert  laughed  heartily. 

"  I  doubt  if  any  argument  could  persuade  Carlos  Vaschez 
into  assuming  the  care  of  any  creature  but  himself,"  he  re- 
turned, ■'  but  we  will  contrive  to  give  her  a  sight  of  him.  It 
must  be  done  adroitly,  for  I  have  no  idea  of  letting  the  fellow 
find  out  what  claim  he  had  on  his  benefactor.  His  demands 
then  would  be  impossible  to  meet.  I  can  summon  him  to  the 
office  and  warn  him  against  the  fatal  result  of  the  life  he  in- 
sists on  leading.  Annizae  could  be  present.  If  she  wishes  to 
know  more  of  him, — but  I  hardly  think  that  she  will."  He 
ended  the  subject  with  that  abrupt  decision. 

Zunega  welcomed  the  hour  of  departure  from  Harberton. 

He  did  not  see  how  he  ever  could  endure  being  an  English- 
man if  it  meant  sojourning  amid  the  placid  atmosphere  of 
rural  England.  He  viewed  the  thousands  of  lights  with  dis- 
tinct gladness  as  the  train  darted  into  the  metropolis.  He 
experienced  a  sense  of  pleasure  in  being  a  part  of  the  stir  of 
the  city. 

Lithgow  made  every  efl^ort  to  enter  into  the  youth's  frame 
of  mind.  For  his  own  pleasure  as  much  as  for  Zufiega's,  he 
took  him  about  from  place  to  place  during  the  week  that  fol- 
lowed upon  their  trip  out  to  the  Towers.  The  news  had 
spread  concerning  Zufiega's  expectations,  and  they  were  the 
cynosure  of  all  knowing  eyes  wherever  they  went. 

Zufiega  added  much  to  his  education  in  various  ways.     He 


2i6  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

even  began  to  find  it  pleasant  to  be  deferred  to.  Sometimes 
he  caught  himself  wishing  that  Gonzalo  Alarcon  could  see 
him  amid  these  changed  conditions.  More  often,  it  was 
Raquel  of  whom  he  thought.  It  was  his  desire  to  place  him- 
self on  a  par  with  her  that  made  him  so  apt  a  pupil  in  all 
branches  in  which  Lithgow  chose  to  instruct  him. 

One  morning,  Mr.  Lambert  sent  word  to  the  hotel  that  he 
hoped  that  Annizae  would  be  present  in  his  office  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

"  She  must  not  fail  to  come  if  she  hopes  to  meet  her  son," 
read  the  message.  "  I  have  requested  him  to  call  on  a  matter 
of  business,  during  the  discussion  of  which  Annizae  can  view 
him  at  her  leisure,  unknown  herself." 

It  was  with  some  trepidation,  artfully  concealed,  that 
Annizae  entered  the  carriage  with  Lithgow.  Zunega  and  Mr. 
Bertram  had  been  at  the  office  all  the  morning.  When  she 
passed  through  the  antechamber,  she  recalled  with  shudder- 
ing the  horrors  which  had  beset  her  mind  the  day  she  had  been 
obliged  to  remain  there  so  long  alone,  under  the  curious  eyes 
of  the  gloomy  young  man.  Things  had  turned  out  so  much 
better  than  her  fears  had  suggested.  Nothing  but  courtesy 
and  deference  had  been  shown  her.  She  had  begun  to  feel 
quite  easy  in  her  mind.  She  had  not  dreamed  of  dreading 
this  meeting  with  her  abandoned  son  until  this  moment  when 
she  was  going  to  face  him.  A  vague  apprehension  filled  her 
soul. 

Upon  being  seated  within  the  sanctum  of  Mr.  Lambert,  she 
found  that  she  was  to  be  subjected  to  an  examination  that 
peered  deep  into  the  whole  of  her  life.  Neither  Zunega  nor 
Lithgow  were  allowed  to  be  present.  A  strange  man  acted  as 
interpreter. 

Page  by  page,  her  past  was  turned  as  persistently  as  though 
she  had  not  revealed  the  greater  part  of  it  without  pressure 
at  the  Towers.  Word  by  word  the  story  was  taken  down  by  a 
stenographer.  When  all  this  had  been  done  satisfactorily, 
Zuiiega  and  Lithgow  were  called  in  from  where  they  sat  in 
Mr.  Milman's  room  with  Lord  Lestonbridge  and  another  man 
of  judicial  appearance. 

"  I  desire  to  show  you.  Lord  Lestonbridge  and  Sir  Cramp- 
ton,  the  ring  which  led  to  the  finding  of  Robert  Percival,"said 
Mr.   Lambert  when  all  were  seated.     "  No  doubt  you  have 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  817 

neard  of  the  famous  Harberton  ring,  and  perhaps  yuu  also  have 
heard  something  of  its  dangerous  qualities — qualities  which 
history  claims  that  it  possesses.  The  younger  sons  of  the  liar- 
barton  house  are  given  rings  like  that  which  this  young  man 
wore  when  Mr.  Lithgow  met  him.  I  mean  now  to  compare  it 
with  the  original,  as  a  matter  of  curiosity,  and  relate  the  story 
which  states  that  the  ornament  was  found  in  Egypt,  being 
picked  up  by  a  dead-and-gone  Harberton  during  some  excava- 
tions which  brought  to  light  an  ancient  tomb  in  which  rested 
the  mummified  remains  of  an  Egyptian  princess,  under  whose 
head  the  ring  was  discovered,  wrapped  in  many  inscriptions. 
Since  that  time,  it  has  descended  to  the  one  who  is  heir  to  the 
title." 

He  held  both  rings  in  his  fingers  and  looked  down  at  them 
as  he  spoke. 

"  The  object  is  supposed  to  have  been  of  Phoenician  origin. 
That  people  were  distinguished  by  the  name  of  merchants; 
their  colonies  were  found  in  all  civilized  countries;  their 
ships  plied  all  known  seas.  It  is  estimated  that  thus  the  ring 
found  its  way  into  the  Nile  country,  which  is  believed  never 
to  have  produced  this  style  of  workmanship.  The  stone  of 
the  copy  is  slightly  dissimilar.  When  I  look  at  the  stone  of 
the  original,  I  always  am  reminded  of  that  wonderful  purple 
dye  of  the  Phoenicians;  and  I  marvel  if  they  imprisoned  the 
secret  of  the  color  in  this  jewel ;  no  lapidary  of  to-day  can  find 
a  companion  to  it.  The  world  may  almost  be  said  to  have 
been  searched  in  vain. 

"  The  history  of  the  princess  was  traced  in  hieroglyphics  on 
the  wrapping  of  the  ring.  Like  mortals  of  the  present,  she 
had  loved,  but  beneath  her  station.  Her  passion  was  returned, 
but  it  also  brought  her  hatred, — hatred  of  one  of  her  own  se.\. 
What  her  quota  of  joys  or  sorrows  ma^'  have  been,  fancy  must 
supply.  Her  penalty  alone  remained  to  be  engraved  on  the 
memory  of  those  to  whom  her  sad  story  became  known ;  a 
bitter  penalty  it  was  for  the  bliss  of  loving,  yet  who  could 
wish  a  sweeter  death  than  hers?  Her  enemy  was  kind  in  her 
revenge.  Jealous  of  the  lover  whose  afTcctions  evidently  had 
been  taken  from  her;  doubtless  believing  that,  if  the  princess 
were  dead,  he  the  fickle-hearted  would  return  to  his  first  love; 
the  neglected  woman  contrived  to  send  to  the  daughter  of  the 
king  this  ornament  and  a  message  purporting  to  be  from  the 


2i8  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

lover,  explaining  that  the  ring  had  magic  properties,  for  it  had 
been  touched  by  the  lips  of  the  god  of  slumber  and  into  the 
deep  purple  heart  of  the  stone  had  been  breathed  some  of 
Morpheus'  own  strange  gift.  Not  sleep  alone  was  it  said  to 
bestow,  but  dreams  as  well. 

"  'Press  thus  upon  the  stone,'  the  message  ran.  'Out  from 
its  hidden  heart  will  steal  a  perfume  soft  and  sweet  as  that 
which  hangs  above  Karpasia.  All  of  the  spices  and  the  scents 
known  to  the  gods  mingle  in  this :  Breathe  of  it,  sleep,  and 
dream  of  him  whom  you  love. ' 

"  That  she  was  a  Pandora-like  creature  the  sequel  proved. 
She  pressed  upon  the  magic  spring.  Out  from  the  purple 
well  a  glorious  tide  of  sweetness  flowed,  lapping  her  in  ex- 
quisite repose,  stealing  with  its  poison  every  sense  until  life 
itself  swooned  and  vanished." 

His  voice  had  been  subdued,  impressive.  Never  had  a 
narrator  more  intent  audience.  Lithgow  translated  it  to 
Zunega.     Annizae  alone  was  none  the  wiser  for  the  tale. 

"  I  am  going  to  pass  the  two  rings  around  now  for  3'ou  to 
inspect  them,"  said  Mr.  Lambert,  extending  them  to  Lord 
Lestonbridge. 

"  I  hope  that  it  exhausted  its  soporific  qualities  on  that  day !" 
Lord  Lestonbridge  exclaimed,  as  he  received  them  a  trifle  gin- 
gerly. "  I  have  heard  of  this  possession  of  the  Harbertons. 
I  am  glad  of  an  opportunity  to  look  at  it." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  you  imagine  that  it  ever  did 
possess  any  such  qualities  as  are  credited  to  it,  Lord  Leston- 
bridge !"  Sir  Crampton  relaxed  his  countenance  sufficiently  to 
say,  as  he  leaned  to  peer  a  little  over  his  neighbor's  shoulder. 

"  Why  not?"  demanded  Lord  Lestonbridge  sharply,  dislik- 
ing to  have  his  judgment  questioned  in  any  way.  "  I  presume 
that  you  are  not  ignorant  of  the  perfection  to  which  such  in- 
struments were  brought  in  the  time  of  the  Medici.  During 
the  reign  of  Caesar  Borgia,  rings  were  worn  with  a  slide  that 
could  be  slipped  back  by  the  wearer  and  poison  be  dropped 
undetected  into  the  wine  of  a  hated  individual.  Hollow  points 
in  the  bezel,  worked  by  an  infinitesimal  spring,  communicated 
with  the  receptacle  for  the  poison  in  such  a  way  that,  in  giving 
a  hearty  grasp  of  the  hand,  one  could  isflict  a  mortal  scratch 
that  did  its  fatal  work  without  getting  its  perpetrator  into  dis- 
repute.    There  were  no   end  of  devices  employed  in  those 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  219- 

days,  and  so  deadly  and  enduring  was  the  poison  that  curio 
fanciers  have  been  known  to  meet  with  sudden  death  by  un- 
wise handling  of  ancient  jewelry  and  weapons." 

Sir  Crampton's  curiosity  was  now  thoroughly  aroused. 
When  the  ring  reached  his  hands,  he  attempted  to  make  the 
stone  move  as  it  was  claimed  to  have  done.  He  desired  to 
show  Lord  Lestonbridge  that  he  had  been  right  in  ridiculing 
its  power.     He  even  tried  to  pry  it  with  his  nail. 

"  I  advise  you  not  to  tamper  with  it."  cautioned  Lord 
Lestonbridge,  thereby  adding  to  the  determination  of  the 
other  to  prove  his  fears  at  fault. 

"  Perhaps  it  was  so  hung  that,  on  the  emission  of  the  poison, 
the  jewel  sunk  deeper  and  never  will  move  again,"  suggested 
Lithgow,  who  received  it  next. 

"  I  will  wager  that  it  retains  all  of  its  old  power,"  declared 
the  old  aristocrat  with  conviction.  "  Those  objects  were 
made  to  do  duty  more  than  once,  believe  me.  The  Harber- 
tons  have  been  wise  to  hold  it  in  awe." 

It  went  slowly  around  the  group.  Even  Zuiiega  made  an 
effort  to  manipulate  the  concealed  spring.  Mr.  Milmafti 
passed  it  on  to  Annizae,  noticing  her  eager  eyes.  He  forgot 
that  she  had  understood  nothing  of  what  they  were  discussing. 

"  I  fancy  that  it  had  a  poisoned  needle  which  was  thrust  into 
the  finger  with  the  pressure  upon  the  stone,"  he  commented. 

"  Well,  it  certainly  has  lost  its  power  of  movement."  said 
Sir  Crampton. 

"  Possibly  disuse  has  made  it  rusty,"  smiled  Mr.  Bertram. 

Unnoticed,  Annizae  had  slipped  it  upon  her  hand  and  was 
contemplating  it  with  satisfaction.  She  supposed  that  it  was 
the  one  which  had  been  hers  at  first.  She  was  determining 
not  to  give  it  up  again.  It  had  brought  Zunega  good  fortune; 
surely,  he  could  not  refuse  to  let  her  keep  it,  since  he  had  per- 
mitted her  to  retain  the  locket. 

"  Buttons"  swung  open  the  door  at  that  moment. 

"  Carlos  Vaschez,  sir,"  he  announced. 

According  to  previous  arrangement,  all  but  Annizae  and 
the  two  lawyers  disappeared  into  the  adjoining  office.  Then 
Mr.  Lambert  ordered : 

"  Ask  him  to  step  in." 

Annizae  looked  earnestly,  apprehensively  at  the  man  who 
entered  with  an  air  of  donned  assurance. 


2  20  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

His  skin  was  as  dark  as  her  own,  but  the  contour  of  his 
face  was  heavier,  and  he  was  thoroughly  English  in  dress  and 
manner.  He  glanced  at  her  questioningly  and  seemed  about 
to  withdraw,  believing  that  he  had  misunderstood  the  sum- 
mons. 

"  I  intrude,"  he  murmured,  with  his  eyes  on  Annizae's  Cuban 
garb. 

"  Not  at  all,  Mr.  Vaschez,"  declared  Mr.  Lambert.  "  Please 
be  seated.     We  have  a  communication  to  make  to  you." 

Carlos  Vaschez  seated  himself.  He  was  aware  that  the 
eyes  of  the  two  lawyers  were  fixed  on  him  in  a  way  that  was 
unusual.     Their  gaze  went  from  him  to  the  woman. 

"  We  are  dissatisfied  with  the  style  in  which  you  dispose  of 
the  money  which  has  been  placed  in  our  hands  for  you, 
Vaschez,"'  Mr.  Lambert  went  on  gravely.  "  From  reliable 
sources  we  learn  that  it  immediately  leaves  your  pocket ;  in 
fact,  that  it  is  squandered  before  you  receive  it.  A  year  ago 
you  were  warned.  We  trouble  to  warn  you  again.  If  this 
sort  of  thing  goes  on,  you  will  find  some  day  that  you  can  no 
longer  look  to  us  for  a  continuance  of  the  allowance.  It  was 
ordered  to  be  paid  to  you  if  you  emploj^ed  it  in  the  manner 
first  directed.  You  decline  to  comply  with  the  condition; 
but  one  course  is  left  open  to  us." 

Carlos  Vaschez'  black  eyes  flashed  ominously.  He  arose 
half-threateningly,  then  sat  down  again,  as  if  he  reflected  that 
he  could  win  nothing  here  by  violence. 

"  Your  benefactor  desired  that  you  should  be  made  a  worthy 
member  of  society,"  continued  the  solicitor,  pushing  his  gray 
hair  back  from  his  forehead  and  deepening  in  impressiveness. 
"  To  that  end,  you  were  furnished  with  a  college  education. 
Every  advantage  has  been  afforded  you.  There  is  little— I 
think  that  I  may  safely  say  there  is  nothing  that  you  could 
not  do  and  be— if  you  would.  But.  instead  of  showing  your 
appreciation,  you  exhibit  the  basest  ingratitude.  You  con- 
sort entirely  with  fast  men  and  women  of  low  grade.  The 
pounds  which  you  have  spent  on  cards,  racing,  and  like  pur- 
suits would  have  been  more  than  sufficient  to  build  an  im- 
mense home  for  London's  poor.  Your  wild  extravagance  is 
beyond  all  patience.  Your  next  allowance  is  the  last  unless 
you  show  signs  of  improvement.  You  soon  will  have  an  op- 
portunity to  see  if  you  can  turn  an  honest  penny." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  »it 

Carlos  Vaschez  rose  to  his  feet  again.  He  bowed  acqui- 
escence. Only  his  hot  eyes  and  his  hanging  under-lip  be- 
trayed him. 

"  Tell  my  father — "  he  said  with  a  sneer,  "  of  course  I 
understand  that  my  benefactor  is  my  father — tell  him  that 
had  he  thought  it  worth  while  to  claim  me,  to  give  me  a 
name — his  name,  I  might  have  found  it  easier  to  conform  to 
his  wishes.  But  instead  of  aiding  me,  he  has  injured  me. 
It  has  not  taken  me  all  these  years  to  discover  that  I  am 
educated  above  my  station." 

"Bosh  and  fiddlesticks!"  exclaimed  Mr.  Lambert.  "A 
man's  station  is  what  he  makes  it." 

"  Not  in  England,  and  especially  not  when  the  man  is  a — 
negro,  and  unnamed!" 

He  showed  his  white,  even  teeth  in  a  smile  devoid  of  merri- 
ment. 

"  Has  any  one  ever  called  you  a — negro?"  inquired  Mr.  Mil- 
man,  turning  his  glance  away  from  Annizae,  who  was  looking 
up  at  Vaschez  with  fascinated,  anxious  eyes,  though  she  com- 
prehended nothing  of  what  they  spoke. 

"No  person  would  dare  call  me  that,"  Vaschez  answered, 
drawing  his  figure  lip  proudly.  "  But  here, — to  you  who 
know  who  my  father  is  and  yet  never  tell  me,  to  you  I  say 
that  I  know  that  I  have  negro,  blood  and  I  do  not  marvel  that 
my  father  is  afraid  to  let  me  learn  his  identity." 

"  Your  father  is  dead,"  Mr.  Lambert  told  him.  "  Vour  life 
has  shown  that  you  did  not  deserve  so  generous  a  parent." 

The  fellow's  features  softened  a  trifle.     He  hesitated. 

"  My  mother,"  he  asked  finally,  in  an  altered  tone.  "  Where 
is  s/w?" 

On  the  impulse  of  the  moment,  Mr.  Lambert  arose,  took 
Annizae  by  the  arm,  and  drew  her  in  front  of  Vaschez. 

"  This  woman  is  your  mother,"  he  answered  briefly. 

There  was  intense  silence  for  tlie  moment. 

The  face  of  Vaschez  worked  convulsively. 

Annizae  had  turned  the  gray  hue  which  keen  emotion  gives 
to  colored  skin.  In  all  her  imaginings  of  her  meeting  with 
him,  she  never  had  dreamed  of  this— eyes  like  coals  burning 
down  into  her  own,  until  they  seemed  to  scorch  her  very  brain. 
She  had  fancied  that  he  would  thank  her  for  the  part  she  had 
played.     She  had  hoped  gratitude  for  the  advantages  which 


222  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

thus  she  had  secured  for  him.  It  seemed  to  her  that  she 
reeled.  She  knew  that  her  head  spun  like  a  top.  To  those 
observing  her  she  appeared  as  bitter,  as  defiant,  as  emotion- 
less as  was  her  custom.  And  the  man  towering  over  her  had 
the  same  bitterness  and  defiance  in  his  face,  added  to  which 
was  a  rage  that,  before  they  knew  what  he  was  about  to  do, 
caused  him  to  seize  her  fiercely  by  the  hands  and  push  her 
back  against  the  wall.  Then  he  flung  the  back  of  his  right 
hand  against  her  face  brutally. 

"  That  is  my  gratitude  for  your  giving  me  birth,"  he  said 
savagely.  "  I  would  rather  never  have  been  born  than  be 
what  I  am." 

Not  a  sound  came  from  Annizae's  lips,  but  her  eyes  glared 
like  a  wild  beast's. 

Carlos  Vaschez  walked  out  quietly  and  awa^^  before  any  one 
realized  that  he  should  be  restrained  from  escaping. 

Mr.  Milman  gave  a  cry  of  shocked  surprise  and  leaped  to 
his  feet  to  wipe  the  blood  from  Annizae's  face.  Before  he 
could  reach  her,  she  had  slipped  down  beside  the  wall,  but 
she  was  not  unconscious. 

"Dear  me!  dear  me!  I  never  thought  of  such  a  possible 
ending,"  Mr.  Lambert  lamented,  calling  the  occupants  of  the 
other  room.     "  He  is  a  positive  brute !" 

"  Perhaps  he  is  not  so  much  to  be  blamed,  after  all,"  sug- 
gested Mr.  Milman,  endeavoring  to  wipe  away  the  blood  from 
her  stunned  visage.  "  See  the  savagery  in  her  own  eyes ! 
Blood  will  tell!  A  leopard  can't  change  its  spots.  She  is 
reaping  what  she  sowed." 

Lithgow  and  Zuiiega  rushed  out  with  alarm.  They  had 
heard  the  words  of  Vaschez,  but  they  had  not  known  what 
accompanied  them.  Zuiiega  knelt  down  by  the  side  of  the 
woman  and  attempted  to  lift  her  up. 

"  Where  can  I  get  some  water?"  demanded  Lithgow,  step- 
ping into  the  anteroom.     "  I  think  she  is  going  to  faint !" 

The  surprised  "  Buttons"  flew  to  bring  some,  but  Annizae 
had  raised  herself  to  a  sitting  posture  with  Zuiiega's  aid. 
She  looked  around  upon  their  faces  bewilderedly,  then  she 
struggled  to  get  to  her  feet.  Mr.  Lambert  took  one  of  her 
hands  awkwardly  to  assist  her  and,  in  so  doing,  perceived  the 
ring  on  her  hand. 

"  Bless  me !"   he  cried  v;ith  consternation.      "  I  had  com- 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  223 

pletely  forgotten  it!"  He  sought  to  remove  it  and,  to  his 
amazement,  found  that  he  was  unable  to  do  so.  "  Look  here, 
Milman!"  he  summoned.     "  What  can  this  mean?" 

At  that  instant,  Annizae  recovered  herself  sufficiently  to 
comprehend  what  he  was  attempting.  With  a  frenzy  for 
which  they  were  not  prepared,  she  fought  to  retain  it. 

"  She  thinks  it  is  the  ring  that  was  hers,  sefior,"  Zunega  ex- 
plained, divining  that  she  did  not  intend  to  let  it  slip  from  her 
grasp  again.     "  I  will  take  it  from  her." 

He  tried  to  elucidate  matters,  but  Annizae  only  looked  at 
him  stupidly.  It  finally  became  clear  that  she  understood 
nothing  of  his  meaning.  She  leaned  back  in  the  .leathern 
chair  in  which  they  had  placed  her.  Her  black  eyes  were 
fixed  on  Zuiiega's  features,  but  a  strange  film  seemed  to 
gather  over  her  vision. 

Take  off  the  ring!"  said  Lord  Lestonbridge  suddenly. 
"  Something  serious  is  the  matter  with  the  woman !  She  has 
the  appearance  of  one  who  is  dying!" 

Zuiiega  endeavored  to  drag  the  ornament  off  her  finger. 
He  could  not  move  it.  He  called  to  Lithgow  with  fear  in  his 
voice : 

"  I  can  stir  it  not,  seTwr  !    It  is  fast !" 

Lithgow  dropped  to  his  knees  beside  Zuiiega  and  attempted 
to  wrench  the  circlet  off.  It  was  of  no  use.  Lord  Leston- 
bridge pushed  his  way  through  the  wondering  men  that 
crowded  around. 

"  Open  a  window!"  he  ordered,  with  the  professional  air  of 
a  physician.  "  Give  the  woman  some  air.  It  is  that  fatal 
ring!  I  knew  it  was  dangerous!  Sir  Crampton  should  not 
have  meddled  with  it!" 

Sir  Crampton  made  no  reply.  He  was  startled  at  this 
seeming  proof  that  he  instead  of  Lord  Lestonbridge  had  been 
wrong.  He  hung  over  the  chair  anxiously  as  the  lawyers  did. 
waiting  to  see  what  Lord  Lestonbridge  intended  to  do. 

A  change,  subtle  but  traceable,  was  passing  over  Annizac's 
face.  The  rage  and  hatred  died  out  of  the  eyes.  The  bitter 
lines  seemed  swept  away  by  soft  finger.s.  A  peace  and  a  ten- 
derness which  miglit  have  been  hers  in  youth  shone  forth 
through  the  countenance  from  which  had  been  lifted  the  mask 
that  years  of  nourished  wrong  had  moulded.  Her  entire  being 
had  relaxed,  as  the  physical  does  under  the  influence  of  an 


224  ^   DAUGHTER  OF  CUBA. 

opiate.  All  the  tension  which  had  kept  her  nerves  like  iron 
gave  way  suddenly.  Whether  the  shock  of  finding  herself  re- 
pudiated as  a  mother,  or  whether  the  secret  power  of  the  ring 
was  accountable  for  this,  they  did  not  know.  They  watched 
her  with  curiosity  that  held  fear.  Mr.  Milman  had  despatched 
"  Buttons"  for  a  doctor.  Until  that  functionary  should  arrive. 
Lord  Lestonbridge  insisted  on  doing  what  he  could. 

With  all  the  strength  of  his  fat  fingers,  he  tried  to  tear  the 
ring  from  its  position. 

"  It  acts  as  if  something  pressed  down  into  the  finger," 
Lithgow  said  troubledly.  "  I  think  that  the  stone  has  sunk 
down." 

There  was  no  doubt  of  it  as  they  inspected  it  closely. 

Lord  Lestonbridge  took  his  pocket-knife  and  slipped  a 
small  blade  between  the  ring  and  the  finger.  He  found  that 
he  could  not  make  the  blade  pass  beneath  the  stone.  Then, 
both  he  and  Lithgow,  with  the  points  of  their  knives,  at- 
tempted to  push  the  stone  upward. 

Carefully  but  hurriedly  they  worked,  glancing  up  once  in 
a  while  at  Annizae's  face.  She  made  no  outcry.  She  ap- 
peared to  be  oblivious  now  of  their  efforts,  yet  her  lids  had 
not  closed. 

"  It  seems  to  be  lifting  a  trifle,"  whispered  Lithgow  ex- 
citedly. 

"  I  believe  that  it  does  move,"  murmured  Lord  Leston- 
bridge.   "  Push  a  little  more  to  that  side.    There!    Ah — at  last!" 

The  stone  had  slipped  back  into  position. 

They  drew  the  ring  off.  Beneath  where  the  stone  had  lain 
was  a  tiny  red  point  of  blood. 

Zuhega  leant  forward,  but  Mr.  Bertram,  suspecting  his  in- 
tention, pulled  him  backward. 

"  I  can  suck  the  poison  out,  sciior"  cried  Zuiiega,  anx- 
iously. 

"  Good  heavens!  Are  you  mad?"  demanded  Lord  Leston- 
bridge. "  Even  should  there  be  no  question  of  danger  to  you, 
it  is  too  late  now.  Look  at  her!  That  must  have  been  a 
most  powerful  narcotic  poison  !  She  is  swooning  beneath  its 
spell.  Perhaps  if  we  dragged  her  about  the  room- — made  her 
walk  for  hours  as  they  do  sometimes  to  keep  people  from  the 
fatal  sleep — we  might  save  her  from  the  effects  of  it,  what- 
ever the  mysterious  thing  is!" 


4   DAUGHTER   OP  CCfiA.  225 

Acting  on  his  suggestion,  they  endeavored  to  lift  her  to 
her  feet.  Her  limbs  bent  beneath  her.  In  no  way  could  the 
members  be  made  to  support  her.  They  resorted  to  extreme 
measures.  They  slapped  her  vigorously.  They  even  pounded 
her.  Annizae  seemed  unaware  of  the  severe  treatment.  Her 
breath  came  less  regularly.  Her  eyes  took  on  the  terrible, 
vacant  stare  that  comes  with  the  loss  of  intelligence. 

When  the  physician  appeared,  the  case  was  explained  to 
him  briefly. 

He  shook  his  head  discouragingly.  He  pressed  down  her 
lids  with  his  fingers. 

"  She  does  not  see,  even  if  they  are  open,"  he  said.  "  They 
may  as  well  be  closed.  I  will  do  what  I  can  by  inserting  a 
counterpoison  into  her  veins.  It  may  arrest  the  paralyzing 
power  of  the  other;  but,  if  the  poisonous  stuff  reaches  the  ac- 
tion of  the  heart  before  what  I  employ  has  had  time  to  ac- 
complish its  purpose,  there  is  little  or  no  hope.  I  know  some- 
what of  the  strange  working  of  these  old  poisons,  but  whether 
I  know  anything  of  this  particular  one  time  alone  will  deter- 
mine— not  a  very  long  time  either." 

Even  while  they  Avatched  him  introduce  a  hypodermic  in- 
jection at  a  point  calculated  to  meet  the  on-creeping  enemy, 
they  could  not  but  notice  with  apprehension  that  her  breath- 
ing became  shorter  and  shorter.  Each  respiration  seemed 
fainter  than  the  last. 

Zuiiega  called  her  repeatedly  by  name  in  anguished  tones. 
She  was  the  only  parent  he  had  known.  He  could  not  endure 
to  see  her  gliding  out  of  life  in  this  mystical  manner.  He 
chafed  her  hands.  He  stroked  her  hair,  from  which  the  turban 
had  been  torn.  No  response  rewarded  him,  not  even  the 
flickering  of  an  eyelash. 

Before  the  physician  had  completed  his  experiment.  An- 
nizae's  breath  had  ceased  entirely.  The  beating  of  the  heart 
became  stilled.  He  looked  around  upon  the  different  faces  of 
the  startled  group  with  grave  countenance. 

"  It  was  as  I  feared,'  he  said.  "  The  poison  was  of  too  in- 
sMlous  a  nature  to  be  baffled.     The  woman  is  dead!" 


2  26  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

During  this  time  the  grinding  had  been  going  on  as 
usual  on  the  sugar  plantation. 

,    With  the  departure  of  the  American,  life  had  lapsed  into 
the  customary  routine  of  uneventfulness  for  Gilbert  Palgrave. 

To  Raquel,  however,  everything  was  changed.  She  loi- 
tered in  the  dreamy  court  as  of  yore,  but  she  uttered  no  more 
speech  to  the  palm. 

Life  was  no  longer  rife  with  speculation.  She  knew  what 
it  held ;  and  that  made  her  silent.  There  were  no  questions 
to  ask  now.     There  was  no  wonderland  ahead. 

Her  eyes  grew  quiet  with  that  hopelessness  which  comes 
from  pressing  the  entire  future  into  one  day  and  living  it  in 
fearful  anticipation.  She  did  not  wait  until  misery  actually 
became  hers.  She  went  out  to  meet  it  shudderingly.  Thus 
she  robbed  of  their  joy  these  last  days  of  her  girlhood. 

M.  Thetiriet  lost  no  time  in  bringing  over  the  letter  which 
Lithgow  had  sent  back  to  him  by  Diego. 

"  Zare  ees  a  leetle  word  een  eet  for  you,"  he  told  her  as  he 
placed  it  in  her  hands.  He  watched  her  while  she  read  it. 
The  flash  of  color  which  swept  through  her  cheeks  surprised 
him.  He  had  observed  nothing  in  the  communication  to 
arouse  any  suspicion  in  his  mind,  but  her  evident  pleasure  in 
the  message  gave  him  a  slight  pang  of  apprehension.  Even 
though  he  knew  that  she  was  to  be  his,  he  did  not  relish  hav- 
ing her  thoughts  occupied  with  the  suggestions  of  another, 
however  beneficial  those  suggestions  might  be.  As  she 
turned  the  pages  of  the  book  eagerly  with  a  desire  to  find  the 
m.arked  sentences,  he  concluded  that  he  would  determine  the 
nature  of  this  volume  which  the  American  had  left  behina 
him. 

"Will  you  not  giv'  me  ze  plaisir  ov  hearing  you  read  ze 
passage  he  mentions,  mackerel"  he  requested.  "  Ze  Ameii- 
cain  was  right.  He  knew  well  zat  I  hav'  eenterest  een  all  zat 
has  eenterest  for  you." 

Raquel  looked  up  from  the  book  in  a  startled  way.  It  was 
the  first  hint  she  had  received  that  she  was  accountable  in 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  227 

any  way  to  anybody.     Her  great  eyes  filled  with  rebellion. 
She  arose  and  put  the  volume  in  his  hands. 

"  You  may  read  for  yourself,  Monsieur,"  she  said,  passing 
to  the  library  shelves  and  picking  up  some  poems. 

M.  Theuriet  turned  over  the  pages  slowly,  pausing  here 
and  there  to  read  a  line  aloud.  This  he  did  not  too  compre- 
hendingly.  Metaphysical  ideas  evidently  were  not  to  his 
taste,  judging  from  the  critical  expressions  which  moved 
across  his  features.  Finally,  he  discovered  the  indicated  sen- 
tence, read  it  to  himself  first,  then  read  it  aloud : 

"  'Ze  action  ov  ze  soul  ees  oftenair  een  zat  which  ees  felt  an' 
lef  unsaid  zan  een  zat  which  ees  said  een  any  convairsation.' 
Um!  Ce  n'cstpasvrai!  Zink  you,  Raquel,  zat  we  mortals  are 
content  wiz  ze  zings  zat  are  lef  unsaid?  Non,  tion  !  Par  ex- 
ampl',  I  nevair  shall  be  satisfait  to  hear  no  word  from  you  ov 
plaisir  een  ze  years  to  come.  My  heart  will  show  himself  een 
ma  actions,  and  ma  devotion  to  you  will  crave  some  small  re- 
turn. Suppose  zat  I  feel  zese  emotions  for  you  but  mak'  no 
veeseebl' expression!  Ah,  zat  would  not  be  poseebl'!  Lov- 
in'  you,  I  must  shower  proofs  ov  zat  affection  upon  you.  Ze 
action  ov  my  soul  so  compels.  Even  now  am  I  yearning  so  to 
do  ;  but  you  repel  me." 

"  I  ask  no  gift, — I  will  accept  none,"  Raquel  answered, 
shutting  her  slender  fingers  closely  into  her  palms.  "  I  count 
it  no  gift,  Monsieur,  that  you  relieve  my  father  from  debt. 
That  is  the  value  you  have  placed  upon  me.  It  is  no  gift.  I 
could  not  take  it  as  such;  but  you  must  know  once  for  all. 
Monsieur,  that  I  do  not  love  you.  You  must  not  ask  it  of  me, 
I  know  that  you  will  be  kind,  and  I  mean  to  be  kind  in  return ; 
but  I  cannot  promise  to  make  you  a  good  wife.  I  am  not 
submissive.  I  am  insubordinate,  that  you  well  know.  If  you 
take  me,  you  take  mc  as  I  am,  full  of  faults, — promising  noth- 
ing." 

"  You  will  protect  ma  name?"  he  said  with  a  shade  of  anx- 
iety. 

She  regarded  him  with  some  wonderment. 

"  Will  there  ever  be  cause  to  have  it  assailed?"  she  ex- 
claimed. 

The  Frenchman  smiled.  It  gratified  him  to  discover  that 
she  did  not  comprehend  his  transitory  fear.  How  innocent 
she  was!     He  felt  that  he  would  have  to  keep  guard  over  her 


2  28  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

all  the  more  vigilantly  because  of  thai,  innocence  when  they 
took  up  their  residence  in  Havana.  She  would  believe  all 
that  was  said  to  her.  She  would  have  unlimited  faith  in  the 
noble  qualities  of  man.  He  caressed  his  upper  lip  with  his 
under  one  in  happy  contemplation  of  initiating  Raquel  into 
the  mysteries  of  the  world.  After  some  thought,  he  said 
gently : 

"  You  will  be  much  courted  in  Havana.  Lov'  will  be  made 
to  you." 

"  Monsieur  forgets  that  I  shall  be  married,"  she  corrected. 

"  Ah,  I  wish  zat  would  mak'  a  difference,"  he  sighed  plain- 
tively, "  but  eet  will  mak'  you  sought  ze  more." 

Raquel  regarded  him  with  some  mystification. 

"  But  what  good  will  it  do?"  she  demanded. 

"  Leetle,  save  to  please  you,"  he  answered,  "and  eet  may 
bring  unhappiness  tome;  but  zat  should  not  be,  for  ma  joy 
must  be  found  in  makin'  you  happee,  ma  chere.  I  will  zink 
only  ov  your  plaisir.  Your  life  has  been  gray  and  dull  here. 
I  mean  to  mak'  it  ov  rose-color.  I  mean  to  place  you  where 
you  will  be  appreciated.  Here,  zare  ees  none  but  your  father 
and  myselv  to  recognize  your  wonderful  qualities." 

Raquel  looked  out  of  the  iron-barred  windows,  but  she  did 
not  notice  what  she  looked  upon.     Finally  she  asked  slowlj': 

"  How  long  will  you  permit  me  to  remain  here  as  I  am, 
Monsieur?" 

"  Your  desires  are  mine,"  he  replied  quicklj*.  "  My  hopes 
— you  need  not  considair." 

He  was  not  disappointed  in  the  result  of  this  speech.  He 
could  not  have  touched  her  in  a  more  adroit  way  to  turn  her 
to  his  purpose. 

She  had  not  expected  this  unselfishness  on  his  part.  She 
had  looked  for  urging  and  arguments,  and  had  prepared  her- 
self to  battle  with  them.  This  humble  attitude  of  his,  leav- 
ing it  all  subject  unto  her  will,  caused  her  to  view  the  old 
man  from  another  standpoint.  He  was  more  considerate  than 
she  had  supposed  he  would  be.  She  realized  that  the  sooner 
she  married  him,  the  sooner  would  her  father  find  himself 
strangely  freed  from  the  embarrassments  which  had  troiibled 
him  for  so  long.  She  had  intended  to  insist  on  a  year  of  free- 
dom, but  this  reflection  concerning  the  benefit  which  would 
accrue  to  her  father  made  her  hesitate. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  229 

"  What  diflEerence  does  six  months,  more  or  less,  make  in  a 
lifetime?"  she  asked  herself.  "  Six  months  may  mean  every- 
thing to  papa's  affairs.  To  me — ?  Well,  shall  I  not  be  here, 
anyway?  It  is  not  as  if  I  were  to  be  taken  to  a  far  country. 
I  do  not  lose  him,  nor  does  he  lose  me.  He  simply  gains 
much  by  it  without  being  aware  that  he  does."  She  turned 
her  face  toward  Theuriet  with  signs  of  determination  written 
on  it. 

"  Give  me  six  months,  Monsieur,"  she  said.  "  I  shall  be  a 
better  wife  for  the  waiting." 

"  As  you  will,"  he  agreed,  his  French  astuteness  convinc- 
ing him  that  to  make  a  move  in  her  direction  would  be  to  lose 
all  the  ground  he  had  won.  He  did  not  stir  from  where  he 
comfortably  was  stationed  in  the  estrada.  "  Zat  will  be  dur- 
ing ze  coffee  season,  almost  at  ze  beginning  ov  eet.  You  may 
defair  ze  marriage  for  nine  months  eef  you  prefair." 

He  could  not  fail  to  see  the  wave  of  relief  that  passed  ovef 
the  girl's  countenance.  This  proof  of  her  reluctance  to  as- 
sume the  bond  of  matrimony  did  not  seriously  depress  him. 
He  reasoned  that  she  was  but  a  young  romantic  creature,  who 
posssessed  ideals  which  would  never  be  realized.  All  women 
had  them  at  first,  he  knew,  and  he  had  never  observed  that 
they  were  less  happy  when  these  impossible  ideals  were  shat- 
tered, as  they  never  fail  to  be  upon  contact  with  real  life;  but 
M.  Theuriet's  observations  were  not  often  more  than  skin- 
deep.  He  judged  women  by  the  visage  they  turned  to  the 
critical  world.  He  dreamed  nothing  of  the  agony  with  which 
they  bend  over  shattered  shrines  in  the  secret  stillness  of  the 
heart. 

"  At  ze  close  ov  ze  coffee-picking  we  can  go  directlee  to 
Havana,"  he  continued.  "  Zarc  will  be  operas,  balls,  dinners, 
a  zousand  and  one  dissipations  which  will  entrance  you.  You 
shall  spend  what  time  you  will  zare.  You  shall  decspense 
hospitalite.  I  mean  zat  ma  beautiful  young  wife  shall  take  ze 
city  by  storm." 

There  was  no  doubt  that  these  words,  picturing  that  even 
though  she  wore  chains  life  would  have  a  festive  look  Which 
was  new  to  her  experience,  lent  a  vague  atmosphere  of  ex- 
pectation to  the  future  and  rendered  the  conteniphition  of  it 
less  disagreeable.  She  had  no  premonition  of  the  opportu- 
nities which  would  become  hers  for  aiding  the  cause  of  Cuban 


230  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

liberty.  Lithgow's  letter  from  New  York  had  not  yet  reached 
her  father.  She  was  ignorant  that  the  volcano  upon  which 
the  Spanish  government  is  perched  was  smouldering  and  pre- 
paring for  a  terrific  outburst,  which  was  destined  to  topple 
an  outrageous  tyranny  into  the  sea. 

When  that  letter  did  arrive,  it  worked  a  transformation  in 
her  which  astonished  her  father,  even  while  it  gratified  him. 
It  was  not  so  much  because  she  seemed  to  regain  her  old 
fever  for  action  as  it  was  that  she  sought  methods  of  spending 
that  imperative  force.  She  emerged  from  the  self-contempla- 
tion which  her  years  of  dreaming  had  fostered.  She  began  to 
inquire  into  the  particulars  of  his  business.  She  was  no 
longer  content  to  be  told  that  everything  was  coming  out 
right  and  that  she  must  not  worry.  She  insisted  on  being  al- 
lowed to  accompany  him  on  his  matutinal  rounds  of  the  es- 
tate before  the  day  was  well  on.  She  even  attempted  to 
master  the  intricacies  of  sugar-making. 

Palgrave  accepted  the  change  with  indulgent  smiles  at 
first.  He  was  confident  that  her  interest  would  wear  off  in 
two  mornings,  but  as  time  crept  on  and  she  still  persisted  in 
familiarizing  herself  with  matters  that  he  always  had  thought 
were  outside  the  province  of  woman,  he  commenced  to  won- 
der and  his  wonder  grew.  She  no  longer  wasted  temper  and 
energy  in  despising  Spain.  She  seldom  mentioned  the  sub- 
ject which  had  so  often  been  her  favorite  topic.  She  seemed 
to  have  but  one  thought — to  make  her  own  every  bit  of  in- 
formation which  she  could  find. 

He  questioned  her  curiously  concerning  this  one  morning 
as  they  rode  on  horseback  slowly  through  the  cart-paths  that 
crossed  the  cane-fields. 

"  This  constant  companionship  of  ^'•ours  is  going  to  make 
me  feel  more  lonely,  guerida  mia,  when  you  flit  off  to  Ha- 
vana," he  mourned.  "  I  never  had  so  much — of  your  real  self 
as  I  have  had  lately.  I  don't  see  how  I  can  let  M.  Theuriet 
take  you.  What  has  given  you  this  sudden  interest  in  things 
concerning  which  you  never  thought  before?" 

"  Something  within  me  demands  work,"  she  answered. 
"  Heretofore  I  have  been  content  simply  to  yearn  for  it  and 
yet  make  no  effort  to  secure  occupation.  Now  that  I  know 
other  hearts  as  patriotic  and  more  able  than  mine  are  linked 
to  the  cause  of  liberty,  I  cannot  remain  idle.     I  suddenly  un- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  231 

derstand  how  ignorant  I  am.  A  son  would  have  been  your 
companion  all  these  years.  He  would  have  made  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  management  of  this  great  plantation  familiar 
to  his  comprehenlion.  He  would  not  have  swung  in  a  ham- 
mock and  eaten  his  heart  out  while  he  read  of  the  great  things 
which  others  have  done.  Because  I  must  wear  petticoats,  must 
I  be  an  ignoramus?  May  I  not  master  the  intricate  workings  of 
business?  May  I  not  be  Jaught  all  that  a  boy  would  have  been 
taught?  Is  it  not  this  wide  knowledge  that  makes  men  stronger 
and  more  able  to  cope  with  difficulties?  I  am  not  satisfied  to 
be  simply  a  woman.  You  long  have  known  that.  Now,  I  find 
that  I  can  become  posted  on  a  subject  which  is  of  paramount 
interest  to  Spain;  I  mean  to  make  the  most  of  the  opportunity 
too  long  neglected.  I  shall  endeavor  to  learn  what  I  can  of  M. 
Theuriet  relative  to  coft'ee  culture." 

Gilbert  Palgrave  laughed  heartily ;  then,  for  fear  of  pain- 
ing her,  desisted  and  queried: 

"  And  what  good — what  particular  thing  do  you  expect  to 
gain  by  it,  dulce  i/iia  ?" 

"  Spain  derives  her  revenue  almost  entirely  from  planters 
like  you  and  M.  Theuriet,  does  she  not?"  she  asked.  "  All  that 
your  life  really  amounts  to  is  in  procuring  gold  for  Spain ^o 
send  back  in  the  form  of  oppression.  You  and  the  whole  island 
of  planters  support  tyranny.  If  it  were  not  for  what  you  raise, 
Spain  could  not  maintain  her  government.  In  one  way  you 
tax-payers  are  responsible  for  Cuba's  condition.  As  long  as 
you  are  here  to  be  wrung  dry  of  every  centavo,  Spain  will  strain 
every  nerve  to  retain  possession.  I  wish  to  learn  the  exact  re- 
sources of  the  plantations,  what  they  are  capable  of,  and  what 
they  now  produce  ;  then,  one  can  estimate  what  tribute  should 
be  paid  to  the  strong-hearted  ones  who  have  Cuba's  liberation 
in  view." 

"  But,  you  don't  mean  that  we  planters  can  furnish  support 
to  any  revolutionists  who  may  take  it  into  their  heads  to  come 
down  here  and  make  matters  worse !"  exclaimed  her  father. 
"  That  would  mean  confiscation  by  the  government.  Any  at- 
tempt at  a  revolt  should  be  checked.  It  only  results  disastrous- 
ly to  the  planters.  We  are  the  only  ones  who  have  property 
to  destroy;  if  we  oppose  the  insurgents,  they  wreak  vengeance 
upon  us  by  burning  our  crops;  if  we  help  them,  Spain  takes 
not  alone  crops,  but  furnishes  lifelong  imprisonment.     I  would 


3  32  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

thank  the  men  who  are  at  the  head  of  this  intended  uprising 
to  let  well  enough  alone.  The  country  has  not  yet  recovered 
from  the  ten-year  war.     Some  plantations  are  lying  waste  yet." 

"  Because  their  owners  are  exiled  or  in- Spanish  prisons," 
returned  Raquel.  "  What  if  the  crops  should  be  lost  and  we 
impoverished?  The  individual  should  not  be  considered  when 
the  welfare  of  the  country  is  at  stake !" 

"  Such  opinions  must  not  be  voiced  elsewhere.  M.  Theuriet 
will  put  a  stop  to  it  if  he  takes  you  to  Havana.  Neither  his 
life  nor  mine  would  be  worth  a  peso  if  you  once  were  known  to 
hold  such  views.  You  would  be  supposed  to  have  derived  them 
from  one  of  us." 

"  But  you  surely  feel  as  I  do,  papa,"  she  cried. 

"  Men  in  Cuba  dare  not  feel  as  you  do ;  at  least  they  never 
dare  speak  their  feelings.  I  wish  that  letter  of  Mr.  Hamilton's 
had  never  been  written,  if  you  are  going  to  endanger  property 
and  lives  by  such  lack  of  wisdom,  urged  on  by  the  belief  that 
Cuba  can  be  torn  from  the  grasp  of  Spain  by  a  handful  of 
patriots." 

"  It  will  be,"  she  declared  hopefully.  "  Even  Zuiiega  will 
come  back  and  fight  for  the  island." 

"  Don't  you  believe  it,"  said  her  father  skeptically.  "  Cuba 
never  will  see  him  again.  You  have  no  idea  of  the  life  into 
which  he  will  enter,  providing  that  he  is  the  heir.  It  is  a  pity 
that  you  could  not  have  married  him  instead  of  M.  Theuriet," 
he  added  jocularly.  "  He  is  nearer  your  age ;  and,  I  think  I 
would  like  to  see  you  at  the  head  of  an  English  home.  'Lady 
Harberton'  would  not  be  half  bad  as  a  title,  would  it?" 

Raquel  turned  her  eyes  upon  him  with  a  look  in  their  depths 
which  he  could  not  fathom.  It  was  as  if  a  thought  had  leaped 
into  life  with  a  force  that  its  sudden  birth  did  not  warrant. 

"  I  would  be  glad  to  have  you  out  of  Cuba,  if  there  is  to  be 
any  trouble  with  revolts.  Promise  me  one  thing,  Raquel," 
Palgrave  continued. 

"  I  will  promise  anything,"  she  said  gently. 

"  Promise  me  that,  if  you  go  to  Havana,  you  will  guard 
your  lips!  Don't  allow  your  sentiments  to  be  even  suspected. 
Feign  to  be  loyal  to  Spain  rather  than  avow  your  real  feelings." 

"  I  never  could  feign  anything,"  she  returned,  "but  I  will 
do  nothing  to  lead  any  one  to  doubt  my  loyalty.  More  than 
that  you  could  not  ask." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA.  233 

"  When  you  have  lived  longer,  you  will  see  the  wisdom  of 
my  caution,"  he  explained. 

"  I  see  it  now,"  she  replied. 

"  But  you  are  impulsive.  You  do  not  measure  your 
speeches." 

"  I  will,"  she  said  earnestly.  "  There  is  too  much  at  stake 
to  be  brave  in  words.     My  silence  shall  attest  my  heroism." 

And  Gilbert  Palgrave  did  not  understand  all  that  she 
meant. 

That  night  she  took  from  under  her  pillow  the  letter  of 
Lithgow's  relating  to  the  society  of  Cubans  in  America.  She 
re-read  every  word  slowly,  though  she  knew  it  by  heart.  Then 
she  placed  it  before  the  tiny  white  crucifix  and  bowed  her  head 
upon  it. 

"Let  him  remember;  dear,  sweet  mother  of  Jesu!"  she 
prayed.  "  Let  not  his  ears  become  dulled  to  the  cries  of  his 
country !" 

Three  months  after  the  death  of  Annizae,  another  letter 
came  from  Lithgow,  with  a  tardy  but  graphic  description  of  the 
occurrence.  It  told  how  she  was,  by  the  strangeness  of  fate, 
buried  at  the  church  of  Harberton ;  and  it  gave  the  particulars 
of  Zuiiega's  entrance  into  his  rights,  becoming  invested  with 
his  title  and  proclaimed  master  of  the  Harberton  possessions. 

"  This  has  just  been  consummated,"  the  letter  ran.  "  AlTairs 
of  this  sort  are  notoriously  tedious.  Zuiiega  has  become  a 
great  lion  and  is  sought  after  until  the  poor  lad  is  near  dead 
with  the  wearisomeness  of  it  all.  He  confesses  that  he  craves 
the  free  life  that  he  once  knew,  but  society  demands  that  he 
take  possession  of  his  properties  and  settle  down  into  a  right- 
minded  landlord,  wary  enough  to  protect  himself  from  the 
snares  which  already  are  being  spread  for  his  feet.  It  is  easy 
to  see  that  his  heart  turns  ever  to  Cuba.  He  intends  to  take 
Annizae's  retnains  back  to  the  island.  He  says  that  he  knows 
she  never  can  sleep  peacefully  in  this  cold  land.  And  when 
he  returns  to  Cuba  he  will  be  what  he  swore  he  would  be — 
one  who  will  fight  for  two." 

"  What  does  that  mean?"  queried  Gilbert  Palgrave  won- 
deringly. 

Raquel  indulged  in  a  little  smile  of  pleasant  triumph. 

"  You  prophesied  that  Cuba  never  would  see  him  again," 
she  reminded. 


234  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  Neither  will  it — unless  a  woman  remains  here  for  whom 
he  will  return." 

"  You  malign  your  own  sex,"  she  cried  indignantly.  "  Have 
men  no  lofty  promptings  of  their  own?  Must  it  always  be 
woman  that  urges  them  to  noble  deeds?" 

"  Nearly  always,"  laughed  he.  '"As  unto  the  bow  the  cord 
is.' " 

The  weeks  and  months  wore  on.  It  seemed  to  Raquel  that 
they  never  had  dragged  so  slowly,  and  yet  she  dreaded  to  see 
them  creeping  by. 

Her  old  favorite  books  gave  her  not  a  tithe  of  the  pleasure 
she  once  had  derived  from  their  pages.  Their  contents  had 
been  mystical  while  she  stood  on  the  verge  of  living;  now  that 
she  had  come  some  of  woman's  problems  unto,  a  deeper  mean- 
ing lay  beneath  the  utterances  she  had  read,  re-read, and  fancied 
that  she  understood.  She  began  to  comprehend  with  what  sad, 
wide  knowledge  those  truths  had  been  exhumed  from  life's 
mines ;  she  shrank  from  the  discovery  that  life,  as  the  earth 
understands  it,  is  an  unenviable  possession  in  which  joys  are 
transitory  and  sorrow  alone  seems  to  endure.  Even  the  opti- 
mistic teachings  of  the  book  that  had  been  Beatrice's  could  not 
take  her  back  to  the  land  of  yesterday,  the  country  of  dreams. 
It  was  true  that  she  had  fretted  in  that  country,  but  it  had  been 
with  an  intangible  pain.  Now  she  closed  her  hands  over  her 
heart  to  still  its  aching  lest  her  father  should  see  her  suffering 
in  her  face.  The  fact  that  the  book  had  belonged  to  an  Amer- 
ican girl  to  whom  it  had  been  a  source  of  strength  and  encour- 
agement was  of  much  comfort  and  urged  her  on  to  try  to  reach 
the  full  richness  of  its  high  teachings.  Years  were  to  reveal 
to  her  that  the  secret  beauty  of  what  now  to  her  were  hidden 
jewels  of  thought  would  be  visible  only  as  she  reached  a  point 
of  spiritual  growth  which  would  render  her  perception  trench- 
ant and  keen  enough  to  probe  deep  into  her  own  conscious- 
ness. 

One  passage  which  Beatrice  evidently  had  marked  haunted 
her  depressingly,  yet  she  saw  its  truth:  "The  things  we  now 
esteem  fixed  shall,  one  by  one,  detach  themselves  like  ripe  fruit 
from  our  experience,  and  fall.  The  wind  shall  blow  them  none 
knows  whither.  The  landscape,  the  figures,  Boston,  London, 
are  facts  as  fugitive  as  any  institution  past,  or  any  whiff  of  mist 
or  smoke,  and  so  is  society,  and  so  is  the  world.     The  soul 


A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA.  235 

looketh  steadily  forward,  creating  a  world  always  before  her, 
leaving  worlds  alv/ays  behind  her." 

"  It  almost  would  seem  that  there  is  little  use  in  trying  to 
accomplish,"  she  would  muse.  "  We  are  scarcely  more  than 
butterflies,  with  the  life  of  a  day;  and  yet,  ought  not  the  very 
fact  of  the  briefness  of  that  day  make  us  more  anxious  to  fill 
it  with  a  deed  which  may  endure?  I  can  give  my  whole  life  to 
secure  comfort  and  freedom  from  worry  for  my  father,  yet  that 
is  not  enough  to  satisfy  me.  I  must  do  something  for  Cuba — 
when  the  hour  comes." 

M.  Theuriet  made  no  further  efforts  to  peruse  the  volume 
which  had  excited  his  fears.  He  watched  Raquel  reading  from 
it  day  after  day,  but  he  had  become  convinced  once  for  all  of 
its  harmlessncss.  As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  marriage,  he 
spent  much  of  his  time  at  La  Sacra  Sonrisa.  It  was  pleasant 
to  his  sight  to  see  Raquel  bent  over  fragments  of  needlework. 
He  smiled  when  he  saw  how  she  detested  it.  She  had  not  had 
the  training  of  convent  routine.     A  needle  was  her  l>cfe  noire. 

"  Yoii  shall  hav'  zese  zings  done  for  you,  cheric,  when  you 
are  Madame  Theuriet,"  he  promised.  "  Worry  not  over  zem. 
Havana  can  supply  all  ov  your  wishes.  Parisian  styles  will  be 
zare.  You  will  not  know  yourselv  when  you  are  clad  een  French 
confections.     You  will  rival  Pepita  de  Urquiza." 

"  And  she ?" 

"  Ees  richc,  beautiful,  and  a  widow.  She  has  broken  more 
hearts  zan  any  zree  ozairs  een  Cuba.  She  has  an  immense 
estate  near  Villa  Claro.  She  spends  her  time  een  many 
cities,  abroad  as  well  as  at  home.  Eef  she  ees  een  Havana, 
we  must  mak'  her  your  friend;  zen  all  ozer  women  will  adore 
you  also,  for  ze  Senora  de  Urquiza  rules  where  she  will." 

And  Pepita  de  Urquiza  was  the  first  woman  with  whom 
Raquel  made  acquaintance  after  her  installation  in  the  city  as 
Madame  Theuriet. 

There  was  no  doubt  that  the  Seiiora  de  Urquiza  came  ac- 
tuated somewhat  by  curiosity.  All  Havana  was  curious  to  see 
the  young  wife  of  M.  Theuriet,  who  was  well  known.  Despite 
his  years,  the  Frenchman  had  been  considered  a  good  catch  by 
wise  mammas  with  a  number  of  marriageable  daughters.  No 
one  forgot  the  value  of  M.  Theuriet's  estimated  fortune.  He 
had  been  petted  and  cajoled  unsuccessfully  through  many 
seasons ;  perhaps  that  consciousness  made  him  regard  Raquel's 


236  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

sacrifice  as  no  sacrifice  at  all.  He  knew  that  there  were  those 
who  would  have  been  glad  to  marry  him,  and  he  expected  that 
Raquel  herself  would  discover  this  fact  before  the  season  in 
Havana  was  over. 

At  the  first  glance  into  the  sad,  girlish  face,  Pepita  de 
Urquiza's  trained  eyes  read  much  that  Raquel  fancied  was 
concealed  with  skill.  She  knew  also  that  Raquel  had  not  mar- 
ried him  for  his  money,  though  that  report  was  afloat.  Her 
heart  went  out  to  the  young  wife  with  an  impetuosity  that  was 
one  of  her  charms.  Without  a  trace  of  the  formality  which 
Raquel  had  expected  and  dreaded,  she  took  the  wistful,  fresh 
visage  in  her  perfectly  gloved  hands  and  kissed  it. 

"I  have  been  waiting  for  your  coming,  dear,"  she  said 
smilingly. 

Raquel  was  swayed  by  that  friendly  overture,  though  her 
well-set  head  was  held  with  that  inborn  pride  which  was  to 
serve  her  well  during  her  initiation  into  Havanese  circles. 
Without  being  aware  of  it,  she  could  make  herself  very  formid- 
able even  though  her  heart  within  was  timid  and  shrinking. 
She  was  to  discover  that  it  is  more  disconcerting  to  meet  the 
unfriendly,  critical  stare  of  her  own  sex  than  to  face  an  army 
of  disciplined  soldiers,  because  the  weapons  of  the  former  are 
subtle,  unseen,  consequently  infinitely  more  dangerous. 

"  You  have  known — of  my  coming?"  she  questioned  in  sur- 
prise. 

"  Ah,  indeed,  have  I  not?"  returned  Pepita,  lifting  her  beau- 
tifully arched  brows.  She  seated  herself  with  a  most  delight- 
ful rustling  of  silken  skirts.  Though  gowned  like  a  Parisian, 
her  grace  was  the  inimitable  grace  of  the  Cuban.  Her  voice 
was  full  of  a  caressing  music;  her  smile  won  for  her  the  ado- 
ration of  all  upon  whom  it  fell.  She  leaned  forward  and  took 
Raquel's  soft  fingers  in  her  own  gloved  ones.  "  I  must  confess 
that,  personally,  I  have  known  nothing  of  you,  but  your  face, 
your  eyes, — they  are  those  for  which  I  have  been  waiting  for 
years.  I  puzzle  you?  I  will  make  you  understand.  I  will  ex- 
plain. Your  eyes  are  full  of  truth,  they  are  perfectly  fearless, 
and  in  that  they  are  uncommon.  I  have  waited  for  the  coming 
of  such  a  one.  I  almost  had  despaired.  Ah,  you  smile !  But, 
it  is  true.  I  am  a  female  Diogenes.  Have  you  ever  heard  of 
Diogenes?  St?  Ah,  that  is  well.  You  have  read,  then! 
When  I  behold  you,  you  perceive  how  quickly  I  recognize  your 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  237 

spirit!  We  are  akin!  We  will  be  friends — no?  It  is  not  a 
small  thing  to  have  Pepita  de  Urquiza  for  a  friend,  is  it,  mon- 
sieur? Ah,  you  see  I  have  conceit !  But  it  is  true  that  I  make 
a  good  friend,  and — it  is  possible  that  I  make  as  good  an 
enemy."  She  directed  a  shaft  of  light  from  her  dark,  dreamy 
eyes  at  M.  Theuriet. 

"You  are  eencapa-a-bV  ov  proving  an  enemee,  senora!" 
expostulated  he.  "  Why  should  you  be?  Eees  not  ze  whole 
world  at  your  feet?" 

"  The  masculine  world,  possibly,"  she  agreed  laughingly, 
"  men  are  proverbially  blind.  They  imagine  charms  and  vir- 
tues where  none  exist.  But  the  other  half  of  the  world — is 
made  up  of  women!  Win  the  love  of  the  first  half:  lose  the 
love  of  the  second  half.     It  is  the  law  of  compensation!" 

"  But  ze  women — zey  obey  your  rule !"  M.  Theuriet  mur- 
mured, mystified.     "  Do  zey  not  copy " 

"  Mes  robes?"  completed  she,  shrugging  her  incomparable 
shoulders.  "  And  why?  To  please  me,  think  you,  monsieur? 
Ah,  that  proves  again  the  blindness  of  you  men!  Believe  me, 
I  know  well  how  unstable  is  my  throne !  I  should  be  dragged 
from  it  by  pitiless  feminine  hands  were  it  not  that  masculine 
fealty  is  too  strong  to  be  combated;  and  I  can  depend  on  that 
fealty — why?  Because  I  give  no  guerdons!  She  is  wise  who 
withholds  gifts  and  delays  rewards!  They  are  prized  most 
when  not  bestowed.  I  must  teach  all  of  these  truths  to  your 
wife,  monsieur.  She  will  have  great  battles  to  wage.  Her 
beautiful  face  will  bring  them  to  her.  Do  I  terrify  you,  dear? 
They  are  unseen  conflicts,  and  one  has  no  weapon  with  which 
to  protect  one's  self  save  the  white  mantle  of  purity  and  wis- 
dom. I  shall  take  you  under  my  wing.  The  high  position  in 
which  monsieur  can  place  you  will  make  you  a  target.  But  we 
will  battle  together.  We  will  be  successful,  you  and  I. 
C/iita  f  " 

Thus  was  cemented  the  friendship  which  not  only  steered 
Raquel  through  a  brilliant  social  triumph  but  brought  to  her 
the  coveted  opportunity  to  work  secretly  for  tlie  success  of  the 
uprising,  suspicions  of  which  even  now  were  whispered  cau- 
tiously about  through  the  capital. 


238  A    DAUGHTER  OF  CUBA. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

One  day,  Raquel  and  the  Senora  de  Urquiza  were  sitting 
together  in  the  sala  of  the  Seilora  Mendonez,  chatting  with 
that  lady  concerning  the  ball  given  the  night  previous  at  the 
Governor-General's  palace,  when  the  Senora  Iriate  was  an- 
nounced and  came  bringing  the  information,  which  she  im- 
parted excitedly,  that  an  expedition  had  embarked  from  New 
York  with  the  supposed  intention  of  landing  on  Cuban  soil  and 
instigating  another  revolution. 

Raquel's  mobile  face  lighted  with  enthusiasm. 

Pepita  de  Urquiza,  seated  opposite,  caught  the  expression 
and  understood  at  once  where  the  girl's  sympathies  lay.  She 
endeavored  to  give  a  warning  glance,  which  Raquel  did  not 
perceive.  Then,  she  hastened  to  say,  with  an  excellent  as- 
sumption of  incredulity : 

"  And  what  then?  What  can  a  tiny  handful  of  penniless 
Cuban  exiles  do  when  confronted  with  such  soldiers  as  Spain 
gives  us?" 

"  But  those  grasping  Americans  are  said  to  be  furnishing 
them  support,  Seiiora  de  Urquiza!"  replied  the  Seiiora  Iriate, 
unwilling  to  have  her  news  discredited.  She  had  received  it, 
under  promise  of  secrecy,  the  night  before  from  her  husband, 
and  she  had  told  it  at  every  place  at  w^hich  she  called. 

"  But  there  is  an  international  law  which  will  prevent  their 
doing  anything  of  the  sort,  you  know,"  smiled  Pepita  de 
Urquiza  calmly. 

"  I  did  not  know.  Is  there  a  law  against  it?"  queried  the 
Senora  Mendonez  with  a  sigh  of  relief.  "  I  am  glad.  I  should 
hate  to  have  our  tobacco  plantation  devastated  as  it  was  before, 
during  the  ten-year  war.  How  is  it  that  you  know  all  of 
these  things,  Doiia  Pepita?" 

"  I  have  travelled  much, you  know,"  reminded  Pepita  lightlj'. 
"  Travel  is  a  great  educator.  Actually,  I  scarcely  knew  any- 
thing when  I  first  left  Cuba  to  see  other  countries.  Besides, 
you  forget  that  you  ladies  have  husbands  to  do  your  thinking. 
I  am  obliged  to  depend  on  myself,  so  I  must  not  be  ignorant 
of  matters  that  ordinarily  do  not  interest  women." 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  239 

"Ah.  that  is  true,"  admitted  the  Seiiora  Iriate.  "  but  you 
might  have  a  husband  if  you  would,  Senora!" 

"  I  fear  to  find  one  less  kind  than  the  Seiior  de  Urquiza," 
sighed  Pepita. 

"  But  he  was  old!     Oh,  pardon  me,  I  beg!" 

"Yes;  he  was  old;  much  older  than  I,"  Pepita  nodded  sadly, 
"  but  he  was  kind,  and  he  loved  me.  Young  men  love  only 
themselves.     Older  men  love  their  wives." 

"  That  is  right !  That  is  right !"  laughed  the  Seiiora  Men- 
donez.  "  I  believe  that.  Let  us  obtain  the  opinion  of  Madame 
Theuriet." 

"  It  would  be  of  small  weight,"  replied  Raquel.  "  Happy 
wives  necessarily  are  poor  judges  of  the  world  of  men." 

"  Ah,  any  one  can  see  that  you  are  happy,  by  your  sweet 
face,"  the  Seiiora  Iriate  declared  with  conviction.  "  Not  a 
wish  goes  ungratified.  Is  it  not  so?  But  if  this  shipload  of 
wild  exiles  land  and  the  blacks  fly  to  their  support,  there  is  no 
telling, — we  all  may  lose  our  riches!" 

"  Why  do  you  try  to  cross  the  bridge  before  you  reach  i-t, 
Seiiora  Iriate?"  remonstrated  Pepita.  "  When  you  stop  to 
think,  are  you  not  disloyal  in  fancying  even  for  a  moment  that 
Spain  cannot  cope  with  such  a  matter?  It  is  so  trivial  and 
unfounded  a  rumor  that  I  would  not  take  the  trouble  to  repeat 
it,  were  I  you." 

"  But  Sefior  Iriate  had  it  from  no  other  than  Ruiz  Alderete, 
and  you  know  how  near  he  is  to  the  Governor-General!" 

Pepita  de  Urquiza  had  achieved  what  she  desired :  she  had 
discovered  from  whom  had  emanated  the  report.  In  spite  of 
herself  she  felt  that  an  expression  of  satisfaction  stole  over  her 
countenance. 

"  Then  believe  me,  Spain  has  received  intimation  of  such 
proceedings,"  she  urged.  "  We  need  not  fear!  Madame  Theu- 
riet, should  we  not  be  on  our  way  to  the  home  of  Senora  Gali- 
ano?  What  apology  can  we  make  to  her  for  having  been  held 
thus  fascinatedly  by  the  Seiiora  Mendonez?  You  must  not 
make  yourself  so  charming,  Seiiora  Mendonez." 

When  they  were  seated  in  the  victoria  and  were  being  driven 
down  the  Prado  at  the  customary  pace,  Pepita  de  Urquiza  said 
warningly  to  Raquel : 

"  You  must  guard  your  features  more  carefully,  if  you  wish 
to  do  no  harm  to  yourself.     Your  eyes  spoke  more  loudly 


24 o  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

than  your  tongue  could  have  done  when  you  heard  the  news 
of  the  embarkation." 

Raquel  turned  her  startled  glance  upon  her  friend. 

"  I  read  your  heart  aright,  do  I  not?"  questioned  the  older 
woman.  "  You  would  be  glad  to  have  the  expedition  land? 
You  would  be  glad  to  see  Cuba  free?" 

"  Why  think  you  so?"  evaded  Raquel. 

"  Because  your  eyes  tell  no  untruths,"  answered  Pepita. 
"  They  are  the  eyes  of  one  who  hates  tyranny,  who  despises  a 
power  that  will  rule  as  infamously  as  Spain  does.  I  read  your 
nature,  but  I  have  not  dared  to  ask  you  a  question.  I  have 
no  need  to  ask  it.  You  revealed  all  that  I  longed  to  know.  I 
may  speak  to  you  frankly  now.  You  are  a  woman  who  knows 
the  value  of  silence.     I  may  trust  you." 

"  You  may  trust  me,"  replied  Raquel.  "  Would >'^a  be  glad 
to  see  the  island  liberated,  Senora?" 

"Glad?  Do  I  not  work  for  that  one  end?"  cried  Pepita  under 
her  breath.  "  Call  me  no  more  by  formal  names  from  this  hour. 
I  am  your  sister  in  the  great  common  love  which  we  bear  our 
country.    Call  me  '  Pepita. '  " 

Raquel  caught  the  lavender-gloved  hand  with  her  own 
gloved  fingers. 

"  What  do  you  for  Cuba?"  she  whispered  eagerly.  "  Tell 
me !  You  must  let  me  work  too.  There  is  nothing  I  would 
not  do!" 

Pepita  looked  at  the  patriotic  fire  which  flamed  in  the  bright 
eyes  of  M.  Theuriet's  young  wife.  She  permitted  a  reflection 
of  it  to  creep  into  her  own,  though  even  here  in  the  open  air 
of  the  Prado  such  a  sign  of  the  secret  leaning  of  the  heart  was 
not  advisable. 

"  You  are  not  cautious  enough,"  she  refused.  "  You  wear 
your  heart  on  your  sleeve.  To  work  for  Cuba,  one  must  be 
able  to  play  two  parts;  no,  to  play  one  part  and  live  the  other. 
Even  though  it  grates  upon  your  honesty  of  nature,  even  though 
it  seems  dishonorable,  you  must  feign  loyalty  to  Spain  un- 
less you  wish  to  be  immured  in  a  dungeon.  Wiser  than  the 
wise  one  must  be!  Only  thus  can  jj'ou  be  of  service  to  those 
dauntless  souls  who  come  to  strike  such  a  blow  at  Spanish 
rule  as  will  shatter  the  hideous  chains  which  eat  into  our 
flesh." 

"  I  will  be  cautious.     I  can  be  wise !"  declared  Raquel  fer- 


A   DAUGHTER  OF  CUBA.  241 

vently.  "  You  do  not  know  me  yet !  Listen !  I  have  known  of 
this  expedition." 

"  You?"  exclaimed  Pepita  with  astonishment.  "  How 
learned  you  of  it?  This  is  the  first  breath  that  has  been  ut- 
tered of  it.  I  have  found  now  that  the  government  has 
secured  warning  of  it.  I  must  notify  at  once  those  who  can 
communicate  with  the  ones  at  the  head  of  the  enterprise." 

"  I  heard  of  the  American  Cuban  organization  and  its  hopes 
months  ago,"  told  Raquel.  "  I  have  waited  anxiously  to  learn 
more." 

"  We  are  indeed  akin !"  cried  Pepita.  "  But,  how  came  you, 
on  your  quiet  plantation,  to  be  filled  with  such  ideas?  I 
thought  little  of  them  until  I  saw  other  lands  and  compared 
their  government  with  my  own." 

"  I  know  not,"  returned  Raquel.  "  All  my  life  I  have  yearned 
to  do  for  Cuba  that  which  a  man  should  do.  Were  I  a  man,  I 
would  lead  an  insurrection,  I  would  indeed." 

"  But  who  secured  you  the  information  concerning  this 
intention  of  the  Cubans  in  New  York?"  questioned  Pepita 
wonderingly. 

Raquel  related  the  account  which  Lithgow  had  sent  her. 

"  And  to  think  that  we  have  known  each  other  for  months 
now  and,  though  holding  the  same  hopes,  never  betrayed  them 
to  the  other!"  smiled  Pepita.  "I  think  there  is  no  doubt  but 
that  matters  of  importance  may  be  confided  to  you,  if  neces- 
sary. Yet  you  must  gain  control  of  your  features.  You  must 
let  indifference  and  incredulity  take  the  place  of  joy  until  the 
fact  is  thoroughly  established  that  we  are — see,  I  was  incau- 
tious then! — that  the  revolution  has  begun;  then  you  must 
scoff  at  all  news  of  victories  for  the  revolutionists.  You  must 
be  angered  at  them.  You  must  feign  fear  for  your  estates. 
In  short,  you  must  play  a  part,  no  matter  how  it  offends  your 
sense  of  strict  honor.  Spain  has  violated  every  one  of  her 
promises  to  us.  She  won  her  victory  at  the  close  of  the  last 
war  by  promises  which  she  never  kept." 

"  But,  may  I  do  no  more?"  pleaded  Raquel.  "  May  I  not  do 
what  you  are  doing?" 

"  Wait ;  we  will  sec,"  said  Pepita.     "  I  am  not  accomplishing 

much  now.     Yet  what  wc  have  heard  to-day  from  the  Senora 

Iriate  is  most  valuable  to  those  in  that  expedition.     It  will  not 

do  for  them  to  come  ashore  where  they  expected  to.     If  the 

16 


242  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA, 

government  has  discovered  one  portion  of  the  secret,  it  is  safe 
to  conclude  that  it  has  discovered  all." 

"  But  how  is  word  to  be  sent  to  them?"  queried  Raquel 
anxiously. 

"  Little  by  little  all  these  things  will  be  revealed  to  you," 
smiled  Pepita.  "  Be  patient.  Plans  for  communication  are 
well  laid.  This  uprising  has  been  well  planned.  Some  parts 
of  it  may  miscarry;  but  it  must  succeed.  We  who  imperil 
our  liberty  and  lives  for  it  will  carry  it  on  to  a  glorious  termi- 
nation. Spain's  rule  in  the  island  is  destined  to  end.  With  un- 
dying patriotism,  our  heroes  have  been  working  quietly  but 
surely  ever  since  the  last  war.  Though  seeming  to  slumber, 
the  fire  has  burned  unceasingly  in  Cuban  veins.  Even  those 
whom  you  meet  daily  and  believe  to  be  identified  wholly  with 
Spanish  interests  are  secretly  with  us.  There  is  scarcely  a 
soul  in  Cuba  that  dares  to  let  its  real  sympathies  become 
known,  yet  each  stands  ready  to  strike  for  freedom  when  the 
hour  arrives.  Munitions  of  war  have  been  secreted  for  many 
months  in  different  portions  of  the  island.  Brave  Jose  Marti, 
twice  banished  from  Cuban  soil  because  of  his  hatred  of  the 
Spanish  tyranny  and  theft,  will  lead  the  sons  of  Cuba  on  to 
certain  victory  when  he  risks  his  life  by  stepping  for  the  third 
time  on  territory  which  he  means  to  wrest  from  its  oppressors! 
He  and  General  Gomez,  who  commanded  the  eastern  wing  in 
the  revolution  of  '68,  have  left  Santo  Domingo.  Their  arrival 
is  to  be  the  signal  for  the  uprising.  Our  watchwords  will  be 
Viva  Marti !     Viva  Cuba  Libre !'" 

"  And  are  they  with  this  expedition?" 

"  Hush,  not  so  loudly,"  cautioned  Pepita,  though  Raquel 
had  spoken  in  the  lowest  tone  possible.  "  It  is  difficult  to  tell. 
Marti  expects  to  land  on  the  south  coast,  having  gone  first  to 
Vera  Cruz  to  deceive  the  authorities.  They  may  be  here  by 
this  time.     It  is  near  the  date.     To-morrow  is  Sunday — no?" 

"  To-morrow  is  Sunday,"  nodded  Raquel. 

"  That  is  the  date,"  whispered  Pepita.  "  From  this  time  on 
you  must  be  on  your  guard.  Reports  of  battles  will  come  in. 
You  must  have  nerves  of  iron.  I  may  not  remain  here  in  Ha- 
vana. I  may  go,  ostensibly,  down  to  my  plantation.  It  is  in 
the  vicinity  of  Villa  Claro.  One  part  of  the  revolution 
is  to  start  there ;  another  in  Matanzas ;  a  third  at  Guantanamo. 
Ah,  Spain  will  think  she  has  a  hornet's  nest  about  her  ears! 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  243 

She  can  buy  peace  with  no  more  promises.  She  will  send  her 
soldiers  over  here  by  the  thousands,  but  they  will  die.  They 
cannot  stand  the  climate.  Those  whom  our  heroes  do  not 
kill  will  die  of  the  fever.  Poor  boys!  They  are  none  too  ready 
to  fight  us.  But,  they  must.  Spain's  will  is  a  cruel  one.  But 
Cuba  will  break  it !     God  help  us !" 

"  And  I,  left  here,  can  I  do  nothing?"  demanded  Raquel. 

Pepita  hesitated.  She  regarded  Raquel's  firm  lips  and 
steady  eyes  critically. 

■'  Dare  you.^"  she  questioned. 

"  I  dare  anything,"  replied  Raquel,  with  a  strength  in  her 
face  that  even  Pepita  had  not  looked  for. 

"  But  M.  Theuriet,  would  he  permit  it?" 

"  Need  he  know?" 

"  Not  unless  you  betray  it." 

"  Trust  me,"  begged  Raquel,  forgetful  that  she  had  said  to 
her  father  that  she  would  maintain  an  infinite  caution  and  im- 
peril herself  and  the  estates  in  no  way. 

"  Well,  if  I  leave  Havana,  it  may  be  necessary  to  have  one 
here  whom  I  can  trust,"  responded  Pepita. 

Raquel's  hands  were  clasped  tightly  together.  She  was 
half  wild  with  excitement. 

"  How  strangely  things  move !"  she  thought.  "  Here,  in  the 
most  unexpected  way,  my  ambition  is  to  be  gratified!  I  shall 
be  thankful  to  monsieur  (she  yet  called  him  by  no  warmer  title) 
all  my  days.  I  have  helped  papa,  now  I  can  aid  Cuba  in  a  small 
way.  It  is  all  that  I  have  asked  of  life.  If  I  should  lose  life 
in  carrying  out  the  things  which  are  trusted  to  me, — what  mat- 
ter? I  shall  be  satisfied.  I  wonder  if  Zufiega  knows !  He  must, 
if  he  keeps  up  communication  with  the  Cuban  organization." 

Two  days  later  Madrid  was  discussing  the  proclamation 
which  the  Governor-General  had  issued  to  suppress  armed 
bands  of  supposed  brigands,  which  had  appeared  in  the  prov- 
inces of  Matanzasand  Puerto  Principe.  Havana  was  discus.s- 
ing  the  matter  also.  In  another  two  days,  it  was  reported  in 
Madrid  that  the  disturbances  in  Cuba  were  of  a  serious  nature. 
The  Spanish  government,  however,  denied  that  it  had  re- 
ceived any  report  that  twenty-four  persons  arrested  in  Cuba 
had  been  sentenced  to  death.  Cuban  sympathizers  all  over  the 
w<;rld  rejoiced  at  the  news  which  was  flashed  over  the  wires 
tlKii  the  revolution  had  commenced. 


244  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

The  report  in  Havana  was  that  the  rebels  had  met  with  the 
government  troops  at  Santa  Cecilia  and  that  three  were  cap- 
tured, while  the  rest  had  escaped  to  the  woods.  Only  the 
most  meagre  news  could  be  obtained.  Official  dispatches  de- 
clared that  the  uprising,  though  simultaneous,  had  been  sub- 
dued. 

"  You  seem  not  so  enthusiastic  now  zat  ze  rebels  actually 
dare  to  take  up  arms  against  Spain,"  commented  M.  Theuriet 
to  Raquel  when  he  was  relating  what  he  had  heard  at  the 
club.  "  I  hav'  plaisir  een  seeing  zat  you  are  wise,  che'rie. 
Eet  ees  only  a  few  malcontents,  at  ze  best." 

"  On  the  plantation  I  had  nothing  with  which  to  occupy  my 
thoughts,"  she  answered.     "  Here  it  is  different." 

"  Ah,  eet  gives  me  gratification  to  hear  such  words  from 
you.  Que! if  a,"  he  exclaimed.     "  You  are  happee  here?" 

"  Yes;  I  am  happy  here,"  she  replied  honestly,  not  deeming 
it  necessary  to  tell  him  what  made  her  so. 

From  that  hour  rumors  of  all  sorts  were  repeated  cautious- 
ly from  mouth  to  mouth.  All  official  reports  that  went  out  to 
the  world  proclaimed  that  the  people  of  Cuba  were  unanimous- 
ly against  the  insurrection.  Yet  the  tide  of  righteous  war 
crept  steadily  on.  Martial  law  was  declared.  Spain  began 
unloading  on  Cuba's  shores  all  of  the  soldiers  that  she  could 
muster.  She  negotiated  for  new  war-ships.  She  bought  her 
ammunition  where  she  would.  She  patrolled  the  coast  with 
gvinboats.  She  had  forty-two  thousand  troops  in  the  island  and 
was  despatching  seven  thousand  more  with  the  greatest  haste. 

Raquel  looked  at  Pepita  with  anxious  inquiry  when  they 
met.  There  were  days  when  they  did  not  see  each  other,  so 
cautious  was  Pepita.  As  yet  nothing  had  occurred  for  Raquel 
to  do.  She  only  could  listen  with  what  indifference  she  could 
feign  to  the  gossip  that  was  carried  from  sala  to  sala.  Coming 
from  near  headquarters  as  it  did,  this  gossip  was  half  truthful 
at  least,  she  supposed,  and  the  lack  of  success  which  appeared 
to  attend  the  efforts  of  the  rebels  worried  her.  But  sugges- 
tions were  dropped  from  time  to  time  that  seemed  to  point  to 
a  suspicion  that  the  utmost  reliance  could  not  be  placed  in  the 
bulletins  which  Calleja  allowed  to  be  issued. 

Society  pursued  its  frivolities,  though  keen  eyes  could  read 
that  it  was  alert  with  suspense.  Whenever  fresh  troops  ar- 
rived, a  monster  demonstration  was  gotten  up  to  convince  the 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  245 

world  that  the  inhabitants  of  Havana  welcomed  the  speed  with 
which  Spain  arrayed  herself  to  put  down  an  uprising  which 
she  declared  already  had  been  crushed. 

As  the  days  and  weeks  went  on  and  it  could  not  be  kept 
entirely  secret  that  the  revolution  was  gaining  headway,  it 
was  whispered  about  that  many  important  arrests  had  been 
made.  Some  faces  which  Raquel  had  grown  accustomed  to 
see,  she  saw  no  more.  It  was  stated  that  they  had  gone  to 
their  estates,  which  were  in  danger. 

Raquel  dared,  innocently,  to  ask  concerning  one  of  these 
one  day,  and  was  silenced  by  the  one  she  interrogated,  who 
whispered  with  terror: 

"  Mention  not  his  name  !  He  has  been  suspected  of  being 
interested  in  a  conspiracy  which  has  been  unearthed.  Whether 
he  is  dead  or  within  the  dungeons  of  the  Moro  no  one  but 
Spanish  officials  ever  will  know.  Even  to  mention  his  name 
now  may  place  one  also  under  suspicion.  We  must  dine  and 
dance  and  live  as  if  there  were  no  such  thing  as  war.  Spain 
declares  there  is  none." 

"  Yet  the  harbor  is  full  of  war-ships!"  said  Raquel. 

Seiiorita  Zurita  shrugged  her  shoulders  and  looked  at 
Raquel  sharply. 

"  I  hear  Maximo  Gomez  is,  with  three  thousand  followers, 
near  Guantanamo,"  she  said  with  an  air  of  secrecy.  "  But  the 
Governor-General  claims  they  are  isolated,  surrounded  by 
troops,  and  without  arms.  He  claims,  moreover,  that  not  a 
single  rebel  is  at  liberty  in  the  province  of  Matanzas.  Manuel 
Garcia  is  said  to  have  been  killed." 

Raquel  divined  that  this  mixed  information  was  offered 
with  the  hopes  of  securing  from  her  some  expressions  of  her 
views.  She  had  learned  to  be  wary  during  even  these  brief 
days.  Whether  the  woman  was  an  insurgent  herself  at  heart 
or  one  in  favor  of  Spanish  dominancy,  Raquel  could  not  deter- 
mine. She  looked  her  straight  in  the  eyes.  She  could  not 
have  told  what  subtle  intelligence  passed  between  them,  but 
the  seiiorita  arose  and  came  close  to  her. 

"  My  father  was  taken  from  his  family  during  the  other 
long  war,"  she  whispered.  "  We  never  have  seen  or  heard 
from  him  since." 

Raquel  placed  her  hands  over  those  of  the  girl  and  found 
them  cold,  as  if  she  were  under  grcit  excitement. 


246  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Is  he  dead?"  she  questioned  with  quick  sympathy. 

"  Ah,  who  knows?"  sighed  the  other.  "  We  have  believed 
him  to  be  in  a  Spanish  dungeon.  If  these  brave  men  only  can 
burst  open  the  hideous  walls  which  have  witnessed  the  suffer- 
ings of  Spain's  prisoners,  God  help  them  on  to  victory!" 

"  Cuidado  r  cried  Raquel.  "  You  forget  your  own  caution 
to  me.     Then  you  are  for  liberty?" 

"  With  my  whole  soul !  Since  then,  my  mother  has  died  of 
sorrow.  I  and  my  brother  are  the  only  ones  left  of  the  family, 
and  he " 

"  He?" 

"  He  is  determined  to  join  Gomez. 

"  You  would  keep  him  from  it?" 

"  I  scarcely  know !  What  shall  /  do  if  he  goes?  There  are 
others — all  the  Cuban  youths  are  wild  to  go;  but  dare  they? 
If  I  only  might  go  too!  But,  there  is  nothing  we  women  can 
do  save  sell  our  jewels!" 

"  For  what?"  questioned  Raquel  breathlessly.  There  was 
no  longer  any  reason  for  doubting  this  little  Seiiorita  Zurita. 
Incautiously  but  fervently,  she  was  pouring  out  her  heart. 

"  To  help  the  cause !  If  they  can  secure  gold,  they  can  buy 
arms  and  ammunition.  Thousands  of  Cubans  will  flock  to  the 
standard  if  there  seems  to  be  the  least  chance  of  success,  but 
without  arms,  what  can  they  accomplish?  The  machetes  are 
powerful,  but  only  in  hand-to-hand  conflicts.  They  must  be 
supplied  with  arms  as  well  as  the  Spaniards,  if  they  are  to  con- 
quer." 

"  Are  there  others  who  feel  as  you  do?"  Raquel  asked 
anxiously. 

"  Every  one  who  has  true  Cuban  blood,  yet  few  dare  avow 
it." 

"  Know  you  any  upon  whom  you  can  depend?" 

The  Senorita  Zurita  sighed. 

"  There  are  six  that  I  dare  speak  to  as  I  speak  to  you,"  she 
answered. 

"  And  will  they  sacrifice  their  jewels?" 

"  Anything  that  they  think  they  can  give  up  without 
awakening  suspicion." 

"  How  can  we  dispose  of  jewels?"  Raquel's  mind  was  work- 
ing rapidly.  She  thought  of  many  ways,  but  none  of  them 
seemed  practical. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  247 

"Ah,  is  not  that  the  question?"  grieved  Seiiorita  Zurita. 
"We  must  find  some  way!  I  will  ask  Ricardo.  He  is  my 
brother." 

"  I  have  not  many  jewels,"  Raquel  said  thoughtfully.  "  M. 
Theuriet  would  miss  them  at  once." 

"  And  he  would  not  approve?" 

"  I — am  sure  not." 

"  But  he  is  not  a  Spaniard!" 

"  No;  but,  like  many  others,  he  thinks  he  has  interests  too 
great  to  imperil.  If  success  becomes  certain  for  the  revolu- 
tionists, he  might  aid;  but  he  has  seen  too  much  of  Spain's 
treachery  and  her  punishments  to  run  any  chance." 

"  It  is  that  very  fearfulness  on  the  part  of  the  planters  that 
enabled  Spain  to  win  before !"  the  senorita  said.  "  My  father 
was  one  of  the  noble  ones  who  supported  the  Cause,  He  said 
that  it  was  cowardly  to  wait  until  the  victory  was  won  by  the 
blood  of  others  and  then  step  in  and  enjoy  the  benefits.  His 
blood  is  mine !  If  he  is  living,  I  will  work  to  help  those  who 
will  release  him  if  they  can.  If  he  is  dead,  I  will  work  to  re- 
venge him.  You,  Madame  Theuriet,  have  no  idea  what  a  pas- 
sion consumes  those  whose  dear  ones  have  lain  in  Spanish  dun- 
geons or  been  sentenced  for  life  to  African  penal  stations!" 

With  no  premonition  that  these  horrors  of  Spanish  ven- 
geance were  to  strike  her  as  closely  as  they  had  Seiiorita  Zu- 
rita, Raquel  bent  and  kissed  the  anxious  countenance  of  the 
distraught  girl. 

"  Do  not  strive  to  hold  Ricardo  from  joining  Gomez,"  she 
urged.     "  You  shall  come  and  stay  here  with  us." 

Seiiorita  Zurita  shook  her  head. 

"  That  would  never  do,"  she  refused  gojitly.  "  That  would 
place  you  and  M.  Theuriet  at  once  under  suspicion.  It  will 
be  known  at  once  where  Ricardo  has  gone.  They  will  steal 
oflf  in  the  night,  he  and  those  who  are  unable  to  hide  their 
sympathies  longer.  I  shall  be  under  surveillance.  I  will  not 
imperil  you,  no,  no!  But,  we  might  intrust  to  him  what  we 
can  obtain  in  the  way  of  money  or  gold  ornaments.  He  could 
turn  them  into  ammunition,  possibly." 

"And  if  he  should  be  taken  prisoner  with  that  jewelry 
upon  him,  it  will  be  recognized."  Raquel's  argumentative 
mind  saw  all  the  difficulties  and  dangers  of  this  undertaking. 

"Yes,"   assented  Seiiorita  Zurita.     "That  is  true;   but  if 


248  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

nothing  is  ventured,  nothing  is  won.  When  I  hesitate,  I  re- 
member my  father.  Even  if  I  can  furnish  only  one  gun,  that 
will  mean  a  few  Spaniards  less;  a  few  steps  nearer  ascer- 
taining my  parent's  fate.  Can  I  sit  still  and  do  nothing  ? 
Could  you?" 

"  I  do  not  mean  to,"  returned  Raquel.  "  Come  to  me  in  a 
week.  No  one  will  comment  on  our  growing  friendship — 
even  after  Ricardo  is  gone — if  our  visits  are  infrequent.  In 
the  mean  time,  I  may  accomplish  something." 

"  You  have  a  way  with  you  of  inspiring  people  with  great 
opinion  of  your  ability  or  your  strength,  or  something — I  do 
not  really  know  what  it  is,"  Seiiorita  Zurita  breathed  grate- 
fully. "  I  am  so  small,  so  infantile  in  manner  that  no  one 
imagines  that  I  could  brave  danger.  I  can  plan,  but  I  could 
not  execute.  I  am  not  afraid  of  Spain  herself.  I  have  been 
drawn  to  you,  Madame  Theuriet,  from  the  first,  but  you  have 
awed  me," 

"  I  ?"  Raquel  smiled  unbelievingly. 

"  You  do  not  know  the  proud  expression  that  your  eyes 
wear,"  went  on  the  little  woman.  "  You  are  one  of  those  who 
are  born  to  rule.     If  you  were  a  man— — " 

"  Ah,  if  I  were  a  man,"  Raquel  echoed  wistfully,  "  I  would 
be  by  the  side  of  Gomez !  No.  I  would  lead  my  own  men ;  I 
would  supplement  the  great  leader's  efforts." 


CHAPTER  XXIL 

The  government  soon  discovered  that  instead  of  burying 
Manuel  Garcia,  as  the  authorities  supposed  had  been  done, 
that  individual  was  alive  and  fighting  with  unabated  vigor, 
while  Peppel  Isleno,  the  acolyte,  had  been  interred  in  his 
stead. 

The  following  day  the  news  could  not  be  kept  from  the 
people  that  a  Cuban  victory  had  been  won  in  the  Vuelta 
Abajo  district;  the  insurgents  had  captured  the  garrison  of 
Vinales. 

It  was  declared  that  Gomez  had  met  a  defeat  and  was  on 
the  point  of  surrender,  but  with  the  passage  of  daj's  no  con- 
firmation came  of  this  report. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  249 

One  morning,  Pepita  de  Urquiza  sent  a  message  for  Raquel 
to  come  to  her  house.  The  envelope  bore  unmistakable  signs 
of  having  been  opened.  Raquel's  heart  beat  with  apprehen- 
sion as  she  glanced  at  the  bearer.  Had  he  read  it  himself,  or 
had  it  been  opened  by  one  of  the  guaniia  civile  ?  There  was 
no  use  to  remonstrate.  Since  the  missive  was  sealed  again, 
it  would  be  claimed  that  it  never  had  been  opened  and  the 
question  would  be  asked  what  the  communication  held  that  its 
contents  should  be  guarded  wdth  such  fear.  But  Pepita 
de  Urquiza,  if  suspected,  was  not  to  be  caught  by  such 
methods.     She  had  written  in  apparent  haste : 

"Dear  Madame  Theuriet: 

"  I  beg  that  you  will  pardon  if  I  ask  you  to  come  and  bid 
me  good-by.  I  am  too  busy  to  afford  time  to  make  the  calls  I 
should.  From  information  which  the  Governor-General  has 
been  kind  enough  to  furnish  me,  I  see  the  necessity  of  going 
at  once  to  my  estates.  They  are  in  danger.  The  country  in 
that  district  appears  to  be  over-run  with  prowling,  predatory 
bands  of  brigands.  The  Governor-General  assures  me  of  pro- 
tection. It  is  unfortunate  for  me  that  I  must  leave  Havana 
now,  but,  since  I  am  without  a  husband,  I  must  not  shrink 
from  facing  these  perils  that  threaten  my  income.  The  insur- 
gents have  been  surrounded  and  ^ptured,  Seiior  Calleja  con- 
vinces me,  and  these  brigands  will  meet  the  same  fate,  of 
course.  Consequently  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall  be 
among  my  friends  again.  I  sail  from  Batabano  to-morrow  for 
Cienfuegos.     Come  and  wish  me  '  God-speed  ! ' 

"  Pei'ita  de  Urquiza." 

Raquel  drew  a  breath  of  relief.  She  dismissed  the  mes- 
senger, wondering  why  Pepita  had  not  sent  one  of  her  own 
servants.  She  did  not  understand  until  later  that  Pepita  had 
chosen  this  very  method  of  correspondence  to  convince  who- 
ever was  interested  in  her  movements  that  they  were  exactly 
what  she  had  represented  they  would  be.  She  was  familiar 
with  Spanish  methods  of  maintaining  surveillance  over  sus- 
pects, and  she  was  cautiousness  itself. 

"There  is  more  in  this  than  eyes  can  read!"  Raquel 
thought  as  she  prepared  to  obey  the  summons.  That  her  sur- 
mise was  correct,  a  very  few  moments  with  Pepita  revealed. 


250  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

"  Walls  have  ears  here  in  Cuba!"  Pepita  murmured,  mak- 
ing sure  that  they  were  completely  alone.  "  We  must  talk  of 
social  matters  in  our  ordinary  tones.  Now  and  then  we  can 
slip  in  a  whisper." 

"  Can  you  not  trust  your  own  servants?"  queried  Raquel. 

"  Who  knows?"  Pepita  lifted  her  brows.  "  But  we  waste 
precious  moments.  I  have  asked  you  to  come  that  I  might  in- 
struct you.  You  can  be  of  material  assistance.  I  will  show 
you  how.  First,  let  me  tell  you  that  Maceo  is  at  Fortune  Isl- 
and waiting  for  the  schooner  Honor  a,  which  will  land  him  at 
Baracoa  with  a  large  party  of  men  and  vast  stores  of  arms  and 
ammunition.  Strong  leaders  are  scattered  throughout  the  isl- 
and. Centralization  will  follow.  Few  battles,  such  as  the 
armies  of  the  world  term  battles,  are  to  be  fought.  It  will  be 
a  waiting  campaign,  a  harassing  war  that  will  keep  the  Span- 
iards guessing.  If  you  hear  that  our  brave  men  always  'run 
away, '  be  not  discouraged.  That  will  have  to  be  their  policy. 
The  Spaniards  will  fancy  that  they  are  conquering  when  in 
fact  they  will  be  losing  time  and  men.  The  rainy  season  will 
be  in  our  favor.  Spain  will  have  to  scatter  her  soldiers  all 
over  the  island.  Ignorant  of  the  country,  unaccustomed  to  the 
climate,  they  will  stand  small  chance  of  success.  The  spirit  of 
our  valiant  ancestors  who  shed  their  blood  vainly  for  their  be- 
loved land  is  with  those  who  fight  now.  This  seeming  leth- 
argy of  the  Cuban  people  on  which  the  Spaniards  build  such 
hopes  is  only  feigned.  Beneath  that  cloak  of  apparent  indif- 
ference smoulders  a  flame  that  Spain  herself  has  kindled 
through  all  the  long  years  that  she  has  piled  wrong  upon  us." 

"  And  you  go — ?"  questioned  Raquel,  her  ej'es  ablaze  with 
the  flame  of  which  Pepita  had  spoken. 

"  To  carry  important  messages  from  patriots  here  in  this 
city." 

"What  if  you  should  be  seized  and  searched!"  cried  Ra- 
quel in  a  frightened  whisper.  "  Your  letter  to  me  was 
opened !" 

"  Ah-h-h !"  nodded  Pepita  with  satisfaction.  "  As  I  thought ! 
That  was  a  scheme,  child.  I  desired  to  ascertain  if  any  sus- 
picions were  entertained  against  me." 

"  And  now  that  you  find  that  there  are,  what  will  you  do?" 

"  Be  more  careful,"  smiled  Pepita.  "  M}''  opportunities  for 
obtaining  information  of  interest  to  our  patriots  have  been  al- 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  251 

most  unlimited,  but  I  can  do  more  good  in  another  quarter 
now.  I  invariably  spend  some  portion  of  the  year  in  the  little 
city  nearest  my  plantation.  I  shall  go  there  now.  I  can  trust 
my  home  servants  implicitly.  I  shall  find  no  difficulty  in 
maintaining  a  system  of  communication  with  the  forces  of 
the  patriots." 

"  And  I  am  to  do  what?"  demanded  Raquel. 

"  Dare  you  do  what  I  have  done?  You  are  young  and  will 
not  be  imagined  to  take  any  keen  interest  in  state  affairs. 
Moreover,  M.  Theuriet's  opinions,  or  those  he  professes  to 
hold,  are  well  known  to  the  government.  I  hear  that  he 
speaks  very  bitterly  of  what  he  calls  'zese  brigands'  raids.' " 

"  It  is  true,"  assented  Raquel.  "  He  thinks  that  this  is  only 
one  of  the  many  futile  attempts  to  free  the  island.  He  be- 
lieves now  that  the  trouble  is  ended." 

"  And  the  Governor-General  will  appreciate  such  un- 
bounded confidence  in  his  untruthful  reports,"  Pepita  de- 
clared. "  You  are  the  one  to  carry  on  this  work  here  in  the 
capital  if  you  have  the  courage.  Mind,  I  do  not  urge  you  to 
do  this,  Raquel.  It  is  extremely  dangerous.  You  have  life 
before  you.  You  have  joy  in  living.  Think  well  before  you 
say  that  you  accept  the  mission." 

Raquel  did  not  lift  her  lids  now.  She  busied  herself  in  ar- 
ranging something  about  her  gown  as  she  answered : 

"  I  should  count  the  happiest  life  none  too  good  to  offer  to 
Cuba." 

Pepita  de  Urquiza  knelt  before  the  girl  and  pressed  her 
face  against  the  soft,  creamy  one  with  loving  insistence. 

"We  will  not  talk  about  it,  dear,"  she  said,  "but  I  under- 
stand. I  do  not  know  why  you  did  it,  of  course,  and  that  makes 
no  difference.  I  am  sure  of  one  thing,  you  do  not  value  the 
things  that  it  has  brought  you.  Your  eyes  are  full  of  weari- 
ness— heart-weariness.  Sometimes  it  has  been  all  that  I  could 
do  to  keep  from  taking  you  in  my  arms.  I  have  longed  to 
comfort  you  as  woman  can  comfort  woman." 

Raquel  tried  hard  to  keep  the  tears  back,  but  Pcpita's 
tenderness  made  a  break  in  the  wall  of  silent  endurance  with 
which  she  had  shut  herself  in. 

"  I  value  this  opportunity  which  has  come  to  help  the 
Cause,"  she  protested. 

"  Oh,  yes,  but   you  wear  your  wealth,  your  gowns,  your 


252  A    DA  UGH  TEA'   OF  CUSA, 

jewels  without  the  healthy  pride  that  belongs  to  a  Cuban 
nature,"  Pepita  murmured.  "  Your  soul  is  full  of  unsatisfied 
hunger.  You  are  beginning  to  see  the  irrevocableness  of  it 
all.  You  faint  at  the  sight  of  the  years  ahead.  You  would 
court  death — an  actual  death  rather  than  the  torture  of  the 
daily  death  which  is  yours  as  the  wife  of  a  man  whom  you  do 
not  and  cannot  love." 

Raquel  pressed  her  hands  against  Pepita's  lips. 

"  You  must  not  say  such  things !"  she  whispered.  "  How 
did  you  know?" 

"  Because  I  went  through  it  myself,"  sighed  Pepita. 

"  But  you  said  one  day  that  the  Senor  de  Urquiza  was  so 
kind  that  you  feared  you  never  would  find  one  like  him." 

"  Is  not  M.  Theuriet  kind  also?"  queried  Pepita  meaftingly. 
"  Does  not  his  very  kindness  cut  into  your  heart?  Do  you  not 
shrink  from  it  and  then  reproach  yourself?  Ah!  You  see 
that  I  have  suffered  too !  I  married  to  please  my  family.  I 
knew  nothing  of  life.  I  was  not  the  thinker  or  reader  that 
you  have  been;  I  am  not  yet.  I  was  educated  in  a  convent. 
I  went  from  that  into  wifehood.     I  did  not  know  what  love  is." 

"Did  you  learn  to  love  him?"  asked  Raquel  hopefully,  as 
if  she  thought  that  she  might  succeed  if  Pepita  had  done  so. 

"No:  I  learned  to  love  another,"  confessed  Pepita.  "  But 
I  was  true.  That  other  does  not  know  to  this  day  that  I  love 
him.     I  do  not  think  he  ever  will  know." 

Raquel  placed  her  hands  now  at  the  sides  of  Pepita's  face. 

"  Why  do  you  not  tell  him?"  she  questioned. 

Pepita  shook  her  head.     Tears  were  in  her  own  eyes. 

"  What  would  his  coming  be  worth  to  me  if  I  had  to  ask 
him  to  come?"  she  said.  "  As  long  as  he  can  live  without 
me — I  can  wait!" 

"  Where  is  he?  Here  in  the  city?"  Raquel  ventured  to  ask 
softly. 

"  No :  in  the  little  town  to  which  I  am  going ;  where  I 
spend  some  portions  of  the  year.  Do  you  suppose  that  I 
would  waste  my  time  there  if  he  were  not  near?  Ah,  we 
women !     What  fools  we  are !" 

She  rose  to  her  feet  and  looked  in  a  mirror. 

"  We  show  signs  of  emotion!  Women  must  never  indulge 
in  emotion!"  she  exclaimed  with  a  little  hysterical  laugh, 
pouring  some  rose-water  on  to  a  dainty  handkerchief  and  bath- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  253 

ing  her  eyelids,  then  performing  the  same  operation  on  Ra- 
quel.    "  It  is  quite  'bad  form,'  I  discovered  while  1  was  abroad." 

"  You  have  not  yet  told  me  the  course  I  am  to  pursue,"  re- 
minded Raquel  anxiously. 

"  Is  M.  Theuriet  jealous?"  inquired  Pepita  irrelevantly. 

"  Why  ?"  wondered  Raquel. 

"  Because  the  young  Senor  Nicolas  Valdes  will  attach  him- 
self to  your  train  of  admirers," 

"Why,  he  is  your  most  devoted  follower!"  exclaimed  Ra- 
quel. "  He  will  be  disconsolate  if  you  leave  Havana.  His 
adoration  is  the  subject  of  many  a  jest." 

"  I  know,"  nodded  Pepita.  "  I  must  caution  him  not  to  let 
his  change  of  allegiance  be  too  sudden.     You  can  trust  him." 

"  You  mean — ?"  frowned  Raquel. 

"  He  will  salve  his  wounded  heart  by  turning  to  you.  Yes, 
yes,  it  is  all  arranged.  He  will  play  his  part  well.  You  must 
feign  to  endure  him;  you  may  laugh  to  your  friends  about  his 
instability,  but  whenever  you  see  him  alone  for  an  instant, 
you  will  receive  some  information  from  him  or  you  must  have 
some  to  impart.  Pie  will  communicate  it  to  me  by  a  method 
known  only  to  a  few.  He  has  performed  this  same  office  for 
me.  He  is  cleverness  itself.  All  Havana  has  supposed  that 
the  lad  was  consumed  with  love  for  me,  when  it  is  love  for 
Cuba  that  actuates  him.  Y^'ou  must  make  a  pretence  of  flirt- 
ing with  him  —  does  that  shock  you?  Staid  senoras  may 
glower  a  little,  but  they  will  forgive.  Remember  that  it  is 
for  Cuba.  Only  thus  can  you  keep  track  of  what  is  going  on, 
for  the  bulletins  are  not  to  be  depended  on.  Cuban  successes 
are  never  mentioned.  Spanish  losses  are  not  told.  Only  thus 
can  you  repeat  to  me  the  little  items  that  drop  in  your  way 
and  sometimes  prove  of  the  first  importance.  I  think  that  you 
need  anticipate  little  trouble  unless  M.  Theuriet  should  ob- 
ject to  Nicholas." 

"  I  will  run  the  risk,"  declared  Raquel.  "  Of  course  he  will 
not  pretend  to  be  madly  in  love  with  me  as  he  is  with  you. 
He  really  must  love  you,  Pepita." 

"  It  is  possible,"  shrugged  Pepita.  "  It  is  a  good  thing  if 
one  can  turn  one's  lovers  to  account.  I  flatter  myself  that 
love  for  me  has  made  for  Cuba  some  very  fine  soldiers  out  of 
what  was  indifTerent  metal.  It  is  next  best  to  fighting  with 
one's  own  arm." 


254  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Raquel  smiled.  She  found  that  her  thoughts  had  flown  to 
Zuiiega.  She  was  glad  to  think  that,  though  love  had  not  en- 
tered into  the  question,  she  had  won  at  least  one  warrior  for 
liberty's  cause. 

Not  until  Pepita  had  sailed  from  Batabano  did  Raquel 
recollect  that,  in  the  excitement  of  that  last  conference,  she 
had  forgotten  to  ask  Pepita's  advice  about  the  jewel  project. 

The  Seiiorita  Zurita  came  on  the  day  appointed.  Ker 
aunt,  the  Dona  Izabel,  remained  out  in  the  victoria. 

"It  is  all  decided,"  whispered  the  seiiorita  eagerly. 
"There  are  fifteen  who  have  poured  their  all  into  Cuba's  lap. 
Ricardo  is  to  take  the  gems.  He  may  go  to  Key  West  with 
them  and  return  with  an  expedition  which  will  bring  the  am- 
munition and  guns." 

"  When  does  he  start?"  asked  Raquel,  wondering  which  of 
her  brooches  she  could  part  with  without  M.  Theuriet  discov- 
ering the  fact. 

"  The  night  of  the  morrow." 

"  Does  your  aunt  know?" 

"  Not  an  idea.     She  can  keep  no  secret." 

Raquel  went  into  her  chamber  and  brought  forth  a  pin  that 
held  two  diamonds  and  a  ruby.  She  gave  it  to  Seiiorita 
Zurita. 

"  I  have  but  two,"  she  said.  "  It  would  not  do  to  let  M. 
Theuriet  dream  of  this  action;  so,  I  must  retain  one.  Wil- 
lingly I  would  offer  both  to  the  Cause.  Tell  your  brother  to 
be  wise.  All  of  our  prayers  will  go  with  him.  If  he  is  in 
danger  of  capture,  tell  him  to  throw  the  jewels  away.  If  they 
are  found  on  him,  Spanish  officials  will  divine  his  intentions." 

"  Cuba  libre  !  Cuba  libre  !"  whispered  the  senorita  into  Ra- 
quel's  ear  as  she  concealed  the  brooch  about  her  person. 
How  little  my  stupid  Tio  Izabel  thinks  that  she  is  riding  be- 
side a  conspirator!  She  would  shriek  with  terror.  She  has 
none  of  our  blood.  She  is  only  an  aunt  by  marriage.  She 
would  be  willing  to  let  the  Spaniards  rule  always  if  her  skin 
could  be  safe  and  her  mouth  full  of  delicacies.  Adios,  Ma- 
dame Theuriet,  Adios  T 

"  God  go  with  Ricardo !"  murmured  Raquel. 
Days  passed.     Raquel  heard  nothing  from  either  Pepita 
or  the  little  daring  seiiorita.     She  fulfilled  her  social  obliga- 
tions with  a  new  realization  of  the  folly  of  this  gossipy  exis- 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  255 

tence.  It  was  not  in  harmony  with  her  nature.  She  wearied 
of  the  gayety.  It  wore  on  her  to  maintain  a  semblance  of 
careless  pleasure  when  her  heart  was  in  a  far  different  sphere 
of  action. 

Despite  the  encouraging  bulletins  issued  there  were  indu- 
bitable signs  that  the  government  was  not  so  easy  as  it  feigned 
to  be.     The  month  drew  to  a  close. 

One  night,  as  she  sat  in  a  box  at  the  opera,  she  saw  Nico- 
las Valdes  across  the  house.  Intuitively,  she  felt  that  he  in- 
tended to  speak  with  her  before  the  evening  had  passed.  She 
was  not  disappointed.  He  verged  nearer  by  degrees.  Fi- 
nally he  appeared  behind  M.  Theuriet. 

"  M.  Theuriet,  may  I  come  in  and  talk  with  your  wife?" 
the  young  Cuban  asked,  seating  himself  at  the  same  time. 
"  I  have  no  one  to  worship  now  that  the  Sefiora  de  Urquiza  has 
cast  me  off." 

"  You  must  not  hav'  ze  audacity  to  worship  my  wife  een 
ze  same  way  you  do  ze  Senora  de  Urquiza,"  smiled  M.  Theu- 
riet, welcoming  him.  "  And  what  ees  ze  latest  news  from  ze 
seat  of  war?" 

"  Ah,  M.  Theuriet,  you  have  admirable  audacity  in  recog- 
nizing that  there  is  a  seat  of  war,"  replied  the  handsome  Cu- 
ban. "  The  Governor-General  recognizes  nothing  of  the 
sort." 

The  old  Frenchman  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  I  zought  ten 
days  ago  zat  ze  uprising  was  put  down,"  he  commented,  "  but 
advices  still  come.  I  shall  go  back  to  my  coffee  plantation 
soon  eef  zis  continues!  Zose  robbers  will  devastate  ze  entire 
country !" 

"  Oh,  this  is  only  a  matter  of  a  few  days,  Calleja  says," 
Nicolas  Valdes  returned  easily.  "  Look  at  the  number  of 
Spanish  soldiers  that  we  have  in  the  island.  The  government 
troops  are  said  to  be  scouring  through  Manzanillo,  and  Colonel 
Santocildes  has  telegraphed  as  to  what  action  shall  be  taken 
in  case  the  rebels  desire  to  surrender.  You  see  he  is  quite 
confident." 

On  the  stage  the  prima  donna  was  singing:  "  0/t,  gioja 
che  si  scnti."  Raquel's  attention  appeared  to  be  riveted  on 
the  music.  M.  Theuriet  lifted  his  lorgnette  again.  Under 
cover  of  the  melody  rendered  by  the  orchestra,  Nicolas  Val- 
des leaned  toward  Raquel  and  said  quickly : 


256  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  A  battle  has  been  won  at  Jiguani.  Antonio  Maceo  landed 
three  days  ago  at  Baracoa.  Eight  hundred  soldiers  who 
fought  under  him  in  the  last  rebellion  have  joined  him." 

Raquel  could  give  no  information  in  return,  save  that  she 
had  heard  from  the  never  silent  tongue  of  the  Senora  Iriate 
that  one  hundred  and  fifty  government  soldiers  had  been  sent 
fi'om  Guatanamo  to  prevent  that  very  landing. 

Nicolas  Valdes  laughed  a  little  with  satisfaction  and  caused 
M.  Theuriet  to  look  in  his  direction  inquiringly,  since  the 
mad  scene  of  "  Lucia"  scarcely  seemed  capable  of  affording 
amusement. 

Within  the  next  twenty  days  the  Governor-General,  de- 
posed, sailed  for  Spain,  and  General  Campos  was  planning  out 
his  campaign.  There  was  no  use  denying  that  the  insurgents 
must  have  made  some  headway  or  Spain  would  not  have 
deemed  it  necessary  to  take  such  measures.  What  had  been 
discussed  as  an  improbability  now  assumed  the  appearance,  of 
a  fact  which  no  amount  of  argument  in  the  clubs  made  less 
palpable. 

The  Havana  hospitals  were  full  of  the  wounded,  who  were 
brought  in  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  a  day.  Three  hundred 
injured  had  been  sent  by  steamer  from  Santiago  de  Cuba  be- 
cause the  hospitals  were  crowded  there.  The  dead  were  bur- 
ied at  night  to  hide  as  much  as  possible  from  the  public.  Gen- 
eral Campos  had  cabled  to  Spain  for  more  troops.  Cuban 
taxes  were  increased  five  million  dollars  to  provide  war  ex- 
penses. M.  Theuriet  was  furious  alike  at  insurgents  and 
Spaniards. 

"  Ees  eet  not  as  I  hav'  always  spoken?"  he  said  angrily  to 
Raquel.  "  Zese  men  who  hav'  no  propairte  to  lose  come  here 
and  rais'  zis  disturbance,  burn  plantations,  terrify  ze  people, 
make  Spain  press  us  harder  and  harder.  We  are  ze  ones  al- 
ways who  suffair!  Ees  eet  not  enough  to  bow  now  beneath 
ze  last  war  debt  which  Spain  placed  upon  us — two  hundred 
million  dollars?  Zese  brigands  will  lose!  For  all  ze  expense 
which  vSpain  incurs,  we  planters  will  be  held  accountable,  al- 
zough  we  sympathize  none  wiz  ze  idiots !" 

"  Why  do  not  you  and  your  fellow-planters  contribute 
toward  freeing  the  island  from  such  a  monster  then?"  de- 
manded Raquel,  unable  to  contain  herself  longer.  She  had 
met  these  querulous  speeches  with  silence  for  two  months. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  257 

It  seemed  cowardly  not  to  say  a  word  that  might  open  his 
eyes  to  what  his  duty  really  was. 

M.  Theuriet  regarded  her  with  a  startled  expression  as  she 
went  on  passionately : 

"  It  is  only  lack  of  funds  and  lack  of  arms  that  will  pre- 
vent the  accomplishment  of  Gomez's  designs!  Cubans  are 
not  allowed  to  buy  munitions  of  war  anywhere.  Spain  can 
buy  where  and  what  she  will.  She  can  borrow  money  of  Eng- 
land and  promise  that  we  shall  pay  it  when  she  has  us  con- 
quered again.  We  can  land  arms  and  ammunition  only  se- 
cretly. We  can  secure  no  field  pieces,  while  Spain  has  scores. 
We  must  fight  from  ambush.  We  must  ask  our  heroes  to  use 
cane  knives  in  lieu  of  guns.  All  the  nations  watch  the  uneven 
conflict  and  say:  'Demand  nothing  of  us!  We  will  not  give 
it.  We  know  that  you  have  been  robbed  for  years.  We  know 
that — unless  you  are  more  sharp  than  Spain  believes  you  to 
be — you  will  be  murdered  by  Spanish  weapons  of  war  now. 
We  admire  your  courage;  if  you  succeed,  if  you,  with  your 
poorly  equipped  handful  of  valiant  men,  conquer  the  hundred 
thousand  trained  soldiers  which  Spain  will  pour  in  upon  you, 
we  will  be  willing  to  recognize  you  as  a  people  able  to  govern 
yourselves;  but  you  must  fight  as  never  men  fought  before!' 
How  can  you  expect  Cuba's  dauntless  souls  to  win  unless  you 
give  to  them  some  support?  You  are  the  one  who  will  profit. 
Through  cowardice,  you  will  go  on  paying  taxes — increased 
taxes — to  Spain  so  that  her  soldiers  may  be  fed  and  paid  while 
they  shoot  our  men  down.  I  hope  that  Gomez  will  burn  every 
plantation  that  affords  revenue  to  Spain.  Only  thus  can  he 
cut  off  her  supplies.  It  is  right.  It  is  just.  Spain  has  held 
you  and  my  father  in  her  merciless  grasp  for  years;  yet  you 
dare  not  rise  up  against  her  now  that  thousands  of  patriotic 
Cubans  arc  willing  to  do  your  fighting  for  you !" 

"  Hush !  Raquel,  dare  not  to  speak  anozair  word,  you  wild, 
fearless  creature!"  cried  her  husband  in  a  terrified  whisper,  as 
he  rushed  at  her  and  endeavored  to  put  his  hand  over  her  im- 
prudent lips.  "  You  wish  to  hav'  mc  een  zc  I\Ioro?  Ah.  pair- 
haps  you  wish  to  get  mc  een  troubl'  zat  you  may  talk  more 
wiz  zat  dissolute  Nicolas  Valdes  who  comes  here  !" 

Raquel  pushed  him  away.  She  was  an  athlete  beside  him. 
She  drew  herself  up  proudly.     Her  eyes  flashed  angrily. 

"  You  are  ignoble  to  say  such  things  to  me!"  she  said  in  a 
17 


258  A   DAUGHTER   Of  CUBA. 

tense  voice.  "  You  need  have  no  fear  of  the  Moro.  Spain 
knows  your  cowardice  too  well  ever  to  accuse  you  of  trying  to 
help  the  land  that  gives  you  your  gold." 

M.  Theuriet  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"Nan;  I  am  too  cautious,"  he  smiled  unpleasantly.  "I 
hav'  lived  longer  zan  you.  You  believe  een  ze  good  inten- 
tions of  zese  men  who  are  committing  depredations?  Ees  eet 
poseebl'  zat  you  hav'  forgotten  your  Gonzalo  Alarcon?  Eet 
ees  such  unprincipled  caballeros  as  he  who  are  costing  ze 
island  so  much.  Pairhaps  you  had  not  heard  zat  Gonzalo 
Alarcon  was  among  zose  who  were  caught  and  hanged  ze  ozair 
day.  When  zat  ees  done  to  all  ov  zem,  we  may  expect  some 
peace.  You  are  a  child.  Your  enthusiasm  runs  away  wiz 
you;  but  zis  ees  a  time  when  prudence  ees  bettair  zan  en- 
thusiasm. Eef  you  can  hold  silence  no  bettair,  we  return  to 
La  Buena  Esperanza.  I  hav'  received  a  lettair  to-day  from 
your  papa." 

"  And  you  had  not  offered  it  to  me !"  exclaimed  Raquel. 
"  You  know  how  I  have  been  worrying  because  we  have  not 
heard  for  so  long!  Has  he  been  ill?  Does  he  tell  about  the 
fate  of  Alarcon?" 

M.  Theuriet  sought  for  the  communication  and  handed  it 
to  her,  observing  her  narrowly.  This  outburst  revealed  to 
him  that  her  indifference  had  been  but  feigned.  He  wondered 
that  he  had  not  suspected  it  before.  He  resolved  to  return  to 
his  plantation  as  soon  as  he  could  do  so  without  exciting  com- 
ment. There  were  several  reasons  why  this  seemed  a  wise 
course.  Gilbert  Palgrave's  letter  had  contained  the  informa- 
tion that  the  work  of  the  insurgents  was  not  confined  to  one 
province.  They  appeared  to  be  as  great  in  number  in  the 
Santa  Clara  district  as  in  Puerto  Principe,  This  was  news 
that  surprised  M.  Theuriet.  Moreover,  he  had  discovered 
young  Valdes  in  earnest  conversation  with  Raquel  several 
times  during  the  last  month,  and  she  had  worn  every  evidence 
of  being  extremely  interested,  being  not  the  adept  at  conceal- 
ment that  Pepita  de  Urquiza  was.  Added  to  these  arguments 
was  the  discovery  he  had  just  made. 

"  Ze  soonair  zat  I  get  back  to  ze  estate,  ze  bettair  for  all  ov 
my  affairs,"  he  told  himself,  remembering  Raquel's  natural 
impetuosity.  "  She  has  no  wisdom  ;  she  would  say  zese  words 
to  ze  face  ov  General  Campos.     Eet  ees  ze  courage  ov  igno- 


A    DA  UGH  TEH    OF  CUBA.  259 

ranee.  Zere  ees  no  telling  what  she  might  do!"  And,  while 
he  condemned,  he  admired  her  fearlessness,  as  age  always, 
half  jealously,  admires  youth.  He  was  wise  and  diplomatic. 
He  harassed  her  none  with  reproofs.  He  made  no  effort  to 
argue  her  into  his  way  of  looking  at  the  matter.  He  simply 
set  about  making  arrangements  for  leaving  the  city. 

Raquel  read  her  father's  letter  with  satisfaction.  He  had 
written  fully  of  all  incidents  which  had  occurred  at  the  sugar 
plantation,  and  he  had  related  the  reports  which  had  reached 
him  of  the  progress  made  by  the  insurgents.  No  mention  was 
made  of  Gonzalo  Alarcon.  While  she  was  thus  engaged,  the 
Seiiorita  Zurita  was  announced.  Her  face  was  anguished  and 
full  of  fear.  She  had  been  crying.  Raquel  went  toward  her 
swiftly,  her  mind  full  of  apprehension. 

"  What  has  happened?"  she  cried. 

"  Ricardo  has  been  captured !"  wailed  the  sister  in  despair, 
"  He  is  confined  here  in  Havana.  I  have  just  heard  it.  He 
has  been  imprisoned  for  twelve  days  They  have  kept  him  in 
hopes  that  he  would  betray  his  confederates.  I  think — they 
have — tortured  him !" 

Raquel's  heart  gave  one  great  bound,  then  seemed  to 
stop.  She  put  her  strong  arms  about  the  girl  and  drew  her 
closely. 

"  No,  no,  they  would  not  do  that,  not  in  this  age !"  she  de- 
clared reassuringly.  "  Campos  would  not  permit  that.  He  is 
clemency  itself,  they  say." 

"  Ah,  but  the  men  under  him  may  not  "be!"  wept  the  girl 
unconsolably.  "  Nothing  but  torture  would  make  Ricardo 
tell!     Even  torture  will  fail,  I  am  sure." 

Raquel's  face  was  white.  She  understood  what  it  meant  if 
Ricardo  Zurita  were  compelled  by  unbearable  agon}'  to  reveal 
the  names  of  those  who  had  contributed  to  the  rebel  cause. 

"  Were  the  jewels  found  on  him?"  she  asked. 

"  I  know  not,"  answered  the  seiiorita,  swallowing  the  sobs 
that  shook  her  frame.  "  I  am  going  to  General  Campos  and 
tell  him  I  am  the  one  who  should  be  hung — for — oh,  they  will 
hang  him  ! — I  know  it !" 

Raquel  tried  to  think.     Her  brain  was  awhirl.     She  still 
held  the  girl  tightly. 

"  Do — have  you  told  the  others?"  she  questioned. 

"  No.     I  came  here  first  of  all.     I  am  going  now  to  the  Pal* 


2  6o  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

ace.  /  will  die  for  it.  None  of  you  shall  suffer  for  it.  It  was 
my  plan!" 

"  You  shall  not  go  one  step  to  the  Palace !"  Raquel  said 
authoritatively.  "  All  would  be  lost  then.  We  must  take 
time  to  think.     Perhaps  something  can  be  done." 

"  We  shall  be  put  in  the  Moro,  or  sent  out  of  the  country  as 
exiles"  cried  the  seiiorita.  "  There  is  but  one  thing  to  do  !  I 
must  go  to  plead  with  General  Campos.  Perhaps  he  will  let 
me  be  hung  or  shot  in  the  stead  of  Ricardo.  Ricardo  could 
fight  if  he  were  free.  There  is  nothing  I  can  do  for  Cuba  but 
this.     I  might  just  as  well  die  this  way  as  any," 

The  little  woman's  resolution  was  like  iron.  Raquel  saw 
that  it  was  not  a  matter  in  which  one  might  act  rashly.  The 
secret  which  Ricardo  Zurita  held  was  one  which  threatened 
families  to  suspect  which  would  be  to  shake  Havana  from  one 
end  to  the  other.  Scores  of  arrests  would  follow.  Estate 
after  estate  would  be  confiscated. 

"  Wait  until  to-morrow !"  she  begged.  "  There  may  be 
some  awful  mistake.  One  day  will  not  make  much  difference 
after  twelve  days  of  imprisonment.     Wait !" 

Somewhat  relieved  by  her  tears  and  a  trifle  comforted, 
Seiiorita  Zurita  promised  to  do  nothing  rash  before  the  mor- 
row, and,  returned  to  her  home. 

Raquel  knew  that  there  was  to  be  a  great  demonstration 
that  night  in  the  city,  owing  to  the  arrival  of  more  troops. 
She  thought  that,  at  the  reception  which  was  to  be  held  in 
honor  of  the  officers,  she  might  be  able  to  secure  an  opportu- 
nity to  speak  with  Nicolas  Valdes.  He  would  be  able  to 
learn  it  there  were  any  truth  in  the  report.  In  her  excitement 
she  forgot  entirely  about  M,  Theuriet's  remark  in  regard  to 
the  scarce  perceptible  attentions  which  the  young  Cuban  had 
shown  her.  She  was  occupied  now  with  but  one  idea — to 
learn  if  the  jewels  were  found  on  the  person  of  Ricardo  Zurita, 
If  so,  the  gravest  of  dangers  threatened  Havana's  society 
leaders. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  261 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  first  individual  with  whom  Raquel  had  any  conversa- 
tion that  night  at  the  reception  to  the  newly  arrived  Spanish 
officers  was  Ruiz  de  Alvarez,  a  lieutenant.  He  gave  her 
more  information  than  he  supposed  he  was  divulging.  He  be- 
gan by  boasting  that,  owing  to  intelligence  received  from  the 
Governor  of  Pinar  del  Rio,  two  suspicious-looking  schooners 
had  been  prevented  from  landing  near  the  Cayos  de  San 
Felipe. 

"  Do  you  know  who  commanded  them?"  questioned  Ra- 
quel, endeavoring  to  keep  the  anxious  note  out  of  her  voice. 

"No,  seiiora;  but  that  is  not  necessary.  "We  shall  dis- 
cover, however,  for  they  will  be  trapped  when  they  make  a 
second  attempt.  Troops  have  been  dispatched  there,  and  we 
will  make  it  hot  for  the  rascals.  We  will  make  it  hot  for  the 
United  States  also,  when  we  have  wiped  these  insurgents 
out !" 

"Why,  liigartcnicntcr  Raquel  murmured,  exhibiting  the 
charming  ignorance  which  she  knew  was  expected  of  her. 

"  Why,  seiiora?"  He  lifted  his  black  brows.  "  Do  they  not 
allow  these  filibustering  expeditions  to  be  fitted  up  on  their 
shores?  They  claim  that  the  revenue  cutter  McLane  is  pa- 
trolling Florida's  coast,  yet  contraband  goods  arc  landed  con- 
tinually on  Cuban  shores." 

"  Is  it  possible  that  this  is  accomplished?"  exclaimed  Ra- 
quel in  apparent  alarm.  "  Then  these  terrible  men  under 
Gomez  are  gaining  ground!" 

"Not  a  bit!"  declared  the  lieutenant,  spreading  his  chest 
nobly.  "  We  let  them  indulge  in  hopes  while  we  discover 
their  plans.  By  the  way,  I  suppose  you  know  that  one  of  your 
citizens  is  to  be  shot  in  the  morning  for  conveying  tidings  of 
our  movements  to  the  rebels.  No?  He  seems  to  be  known 
everywhere.  I  believe  he  was  one  of  the  most  popular  youths 
of  the  city.  The  matter  has  caused  some  comment.  I  have 
seen  him— a  fine,  manly  fellow.  It  is  rather  a  pity!  These 
Cubans  are  brave !" 

"  His  name?    Who  is  he?"  asked  Raquel,  divining  to  whom 
he  referred. 


262  A   DAUGHTER  OP  CUBA. 

"  One  Ricardo  Zurita,  they  tell  me.  He  was  taken  with  a 
large  sum  of  money  and  papers  of  most  incriminating  nature 
upon  him.  It  is  said  that  he  obtained  the  gold  by  disposing  of 
family  jewels,  but  no  one  can  be  found  who  will  admit  buying 
jewels  of  him.     Rather  daring,  was  it  not?" 

"  I  have  seen  the  boy,  and  I  know  his  sister — she  is  a  little 
thing,"  said  Raquel.  "  This  is  terrible !  Can  nothing  be  done 
to  release  him?  He  and  his  sister  are  orphans.  What  will 
she  do?" 

"  You  would  not  wish  him  released  when  it  is  certain  that 
he  is  guilty !"  exclaimed  the  Spaniard.  "  He  would  do  the 
thing  over  again.  There  is  only  one  method  to  pursue  in  such 
flagrant  cases — administer  death.  That  will  teach  others  bet- 
ter than  to  follow  in  his  tracks." 

Raquel  leaned  back  in  her  chair  with  a  paralyzing  sense  of 
sickness  numbing  her  heart. 

Nicolas  Valdes  approached  at  that  moment.  Raquel 
looked  up  into  his  face  with  such  an  appealing  expression  that 
Valdes  knew  at  once  that,  for  safety's  sake,  it  would  be  advis- 
able to  attract  the  Spaniard's  attention  in  some  other  direc- 
tion. Neither  of  them  was  aware  or  even  suspected  that 
Theuriet  had  stationed  himself  where  he  could  observe  Raquel 
without  being  seen  by  her. 

"  I  heard  Coronel  Nunez  inquiring  as  to  your  whereabouts 
a  few  moments  ago,  lugartenieiite,"  Valdes  told  the  soldier. 
"  He  had  the  pretty  Senorita  Iriate  on  his  arm.  I  think  he 
wished  to  introduce  you." 

The  lieutenant  arose  not  too  willingly. 

Valdes  and  Raquel  were  left  alone. 

"  Have  you  heard  this  awful  fate  that  has  befallen  Ricardo 
Zurita?"  she  asked  breathlessly. 

"It  is  just  beginning  to  creep  out,"  he  answered,  seating 
himself  in  the  chair  the  Spaniard  had  vacated.  "  I  have  not 
found  out  of  what  he  is  suspected.     Perfectly  harmless  boy !" 

"  Harmless  except  to  Spain,"  completed  Raquel,  repeating 
what  the  soldier  had  told  her. 

Valdes  heard  her  troubledly. 

"  It  is  bad  for  Ricardo  and  threatening  for  those  who  may 
be  implicated  in  the  matter,"  he  said  anxiously.  "  He  may  be 
shot  and  he  may  not.  That  lugartciiicnte  may  have  been 
sounding  you  as  to  your  feeling  on  the  subject.    Did  you  think 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  263 

of  that?  These  Spaniards  are  not  always  as  innocent  as  they 
seem.  Their  system  of  espionage  has  been  perfected  during 
all  these  years  that  they  have  held  the  keys  to  Cuban  house- 
holds, as  one  might  say.  They  have  improved  on  the  man- 
ners employed  in  the  time  of  the  inquisition." 

"Is  there  no  hope  of  freeing  him?"  asked  Raquel,  putting 
her  fingers  up  to  her  throbbing  temples. 

"  Was  ever  a  man  freed  whom  Spain  suspected  ?  "  he  an- 
swered meaningly.  "  There  has  been  no  way  of  knowing  what 
becomes  of  those  who  are  whisked  from  sight  suddenly. 
Spain's  method  of  silencing  has  proven  very  efficacious;  but, 
please  God,  the  dungeons  of  the  Moro  shall  be  thrown  open  to 
the  vision  of  a  shuddering  world  before  the  year  is  done !  The 
horrible  agonies  of  those  fathers  and  brothers  who  were  im- 
prisoned during  the  war  of  twenty  3'ears  ago  may  then  be 
revealed." 

"But  to  remain  inactive  while  that  poor  boy  suffers! 
How  can  we?"     Raquel  cried  with  a  sob  in  her  breath. 

Valdes  seemed  struck  by  a  sudden  thought.  He  looked  at 
her  penetratingly.  Did  this  indirectly  threaten  her,  he  won- 
dered. 

"It  is  for  Cuba!"  he  whispered.  "What  more  glorious 
death  would  you  wish  him?" 

"  His  sister  is  determined  to  go  and  ask  General  Campos  to 
let  her  be  shot  in  Ricardo's  stead,"  she  went  on.  "I  have 
begged  her  to  wait  until  the  morning." 

"  Ah,  she  has  been  to  see  you?"  said  he.  "  Then  the  soldier 
was  not  the  first  to  tell  you !  This  is  more  serious  than  it  ap- 
peared. She  must  not  go!  Such  an  action  would  imperil  not 
one  life  alone,  but  many — is  it  not  so?" 

"  She  believes  that  he  might  be  freed  and  could  fight  again 
for  Cuba." 

"  Ah,  do  Spain's  victims  not  know  her  yet?"  groaned  Val- 
des. "  The  girl  must  not  be  allowed  to  go  near  Campos  or 
any  of  his  men.  That  is  exactly  what  they  want.  From  her 
little  body  they  could  drag  all  the  information  she  possesses. 
No  doubt  she  is  under  surveillance  now.  She  must  not  come 
to  see  you,  Madame  Theuriet.  There  is  too  much  at  stake! 
Let  them  shoot  Ricardo,  if  they  will.  It  would  be  more  mer- 
ciful than  imprisonment  in  Spanish  jails;  and — he  will  not 
shrink!  He  will  be  meeting  only  what  he  would  stand  in  dan- 


264  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

ger  of  meeting  in  the  field.  You  may  be  certain  of  one  thing 
— all  of  the  horses  of  the  Spanish  cavalry  will  never  be  able  to 
drag  from  him  what  secrets  he  may  hold ;  he  is  a  Cuban !" 

Raquel  drew  a  long  breath  and  closed  her  fingers  tightly 
together. 

"  How  cruel  war  is  I"  she  murmured.  "  It  is  horrible  to  sit 
day  after  day  and  Vv'eek  after  week  in  inaction  while  the  coun- 
try calls.  The  little  that  I  am  able  to  do  is  so  pitiably  small ! 
I  am  not  an  adept  at  discovering  state  secrets  as  Pepita  is!" 

"  Sh !"  warned  Valdes.  "  Here  comes  that  gossiping  Seiiora 
Iriate !" 

Those  who  noticed  this  absorbing  conversation  lifted  their 
brows  and  smiled  knowingly,  repeating  the  old  adage : 
"  Hearts  are  caught  in  the  rebound."  Nicolas  Valdes'  swerv- 
ing devotion  was  the  subject  of  many  a  laughing  comment. 
M.  Theuriet  even  was  watched  by  gossipy  eyes  to  discover  if 
he  approved  of  this  sudden  friendship  which  had  sprung  up 
between  his  wife  and  Pepita's  admirer. 

And  M.  Theuriet,  from  his  post  of  vantage  where  he  was 
talking  desultorily  with  a  Spanish  officer's  wife,  noted  every 
change  of  Raquel's  features.  A  rage  began  to  stir  within  him. 
He  had  no  thought  but  that  Valdes  was  making  violent  love 
to  Raquel,  and  the  appearances  were  that  she  was  not  dis- 
couraging him. 

"  i  learned  one  important  thing  from  that  officer,"  Raquel 
was  saying  at  that  moment.  "  Spain  has  sent  a  detachment  of 
troops  to  prevent  the  landing  of  two  schooners  that  were  seen 
hovering  about  the  south  coast." 

Valdes  smiled  with  satisfaction  at  this  information. 

M.  Theuriet  ground  his  teeth.  "  I  wonder  what  she  said  to 
him?"  he  stormed  inwardly.  "  I  will  ask  her !  She  shall  tell 
me!" 

"  That  is  a  good  place  to  keep  the  troops,"  Valdes  replied 
cautiously.  "  When  they  are  there,  they  are  not  at  more  im- 
portant spots.  Collazo  is  sharp.  He  probably  has  landed 
elsewhere  by  this  time.  I  am  glad  you  found  that  out.  I 
wonder  if  those  were  the  troops  that  were  sent  off  yesterday !" 

"  Oh,  it  was  CoUazo's  expedition?" 

"  I  think.  It  was  expected  at  Bahia  Honda,  but  the  coast  is 
patrolled.  A  large  expedition  will  put  in  soon  at  the  Cayos 
Cobos  on  the  east  coast." 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  265 

"  Who  commands  it?"  she  asked.  "  That  will  furnish  arms 
for  the  Santa  Clara  district." 

"  Yes,"  responded  Valdes,  answering  the  last  question  first. 
"  It  is  fitted  out  bj'  a  Cuban  who  has  come  into  an  English  for- 
tune. There  is  some  satisfaction  in  feeling  that  as  long  as 
Spain  borrows  English  money  with  which  to  obtain  men-of- 
war,  we  can  fight  back  with  English  gold  that  is  given,  not 
loaned.  By  the  way,  Carlos  Cespedes  is  said  to  have  contrib- 
uted eighty  thousand  dollars  to  the  revolutionist  fund." 

■'  Know  you  the  name  of  the  one  who  has  the  English  for- 
tune?" demanded  Raquel,  her  face  aglow,  all  things  swept 
from  her  mind  for  the  moment  by  this  certainty  that  Zuliega 
was  alert  and  acting. 

Nicolas  Valdes  shook  his  head. 

"  Do  you,  madame?"  he  queried,  noting  the  expression  of 
gladness  which  banished  the  anxiety  that  had  lain  in  her 
eyes. 

"  Yes,"  she  smiled.  "  He  is  a  friend.  He  has  promised  to 
fight  not  only  for  himself  but  for  me  as  well.  He  knows  my 
hunger  to  take  up  arms  against " 

Valdes  concealed  the  word  she  spoke  by  coughing,  as  that 
instant  M.  Theuriet  suddenly  appeared  before  them. 

It  was  the  first  time  that  Raquel  ever  had  seen  her  husband 
angry.  She  did  not  understand  what  was  the  matter,  but  she 
knew  at  a  glance  that  something  had  gone  wrong.  She,  had 
an  uneasy  presentiment  that  this  conversation  of  hers  with 
Valdes  had  given  M.  Theuriet  no  pleasure.  His  words  of  the 
afternoon  returned  to  her  mind.  She  wondered  that  she  had 
bestowed  on  them  so  little  thought.  It  had  been  the  entrance 
of  the  Seiiorita  Zurita  that  had  put  them  out  of  her  memory. 

"  You  are  not  looking  well,  monsieur,"  she  exclaimed,  ris- 
ing.    "  Are  you  ill?     Shall  we  go  home?" 

Theuriet  bowed  to  Valdes  and  offered  her  his  arm. 

"  Eef  Senor  Valdes  will  pardon  me  for  depriving  heem  ov 
your  societc,"  he  murmured  suavely. 

"  I  fear  that  it  will  be  a  small  deprivation,"  smiled  Raquel. 
"  Adios,  Senor  Valdes." 

"  Eet  might  be  advisabl'  to  say  a  farewell  to  heem,"  Theu- 
riet told  her  loud  enough  for  Valdes  to  hear.  "  I  hav'  made 
arrangements  to  leav'  Havana  on  ze  morrow.  We  return  to 
ze  plantation.     Mes  affaires  demand  eet." 


266  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  Return  to  the  plantation — now !"  cried  Raquel  in  con- 
sternation. 

"  Zat  ees  my  eentention,"  replied  the  Frenchman.  "  I  hav' 
learned  eenformation  zat  mak'  such  a  decision  verra  wise ;  for 
eenstance,  eet  is  whispaired  zat — but  eet  ees  not  senseebl'  to 
repeat  reports." 

Raquel  recovered  herself  quickly, 

"You  men  hear  news  that  does  not  reach  feminine  ears," 
she  said.  "  I  suppose  that  you  fear  for  your  coffee  crop, 
monsieur," 

"  Pas  du  tout"  he  answered,  shrugging  his  shoulders. 
"  General  Campos  will  hav'  ze  blind  fellows  all  trapped  before 
zey  hav'  time  to  creep  up  zrough  Puerto  Principe.  I  hav' 
fear  for  ozair  mattairs  which  I  will  explain  to  you.  AJios, 
Senor  Valdes,  adios." 

"The  old  man  has  found  out  something,"  Nicolas  Valdes 
thought  uneasily,  watching  them  making  their  adieus. 
"  There  was  half  a  threat  in  his  eye." 

When  they  were  within  their  own  walls,  Raquel  demanded : 

"  Why  do  you  take  this  sudden  step?" 

For  reply,  her  husband  asked  meaningly :  "  Will  you  pair- 
mit  me  to  inspect  your  jewels,  f/m  chereT 

She  had  not  expected  this.  She  knew  that  she  exhibited 
surprise. 

"  You  never  have  made  such  a  request  before.  What  is 
your  reason?"  she  asked. 

"  I  wish  to  place  zem  een  safeety  before  we  commence  our 
journey,"  he  answered.     "  Why  should  you  hesitate?" 

"  I  do  not,  monsieur,"  she  replied  indignantly,  getting  her 
jewelry  without  another  word  and  placing  it  before  him, 

"  One  is  missing,"  he  observed;  "  ze  epingh  wiz  ze  ruby." 

"Yes,  one  is  missing,"  acknowledged  Raquel,  knowing  of 
no  other  way  than  honesty  by  which  to  meet  this  trouble 
which  was  descending  upon  her. 

M.  Theuriet  looked  up  at  her  proud,  fearless  face  with  a 
fright  in  his  own. 

"  Where  ees  eet?"  he  demanded.  Raquel  shook  her  head. 
"  I  know  not,"  she  replied,  reflecting  that  she  did  not  know 
into  whose  hands  it  had  fallen.  "  I  have  missed  it  for  some 
time." 

"  Know  you  what  your  words  lead  me  to  suspect?"  he  ques- 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  267 

tioned,  his  voice  trembling  a  little  with  anger  not  unmixed 
with  anxiety. 

"  That  I  have  been  careless?"  she  smiled.  "  I  thought  best 
not  to  tell  you,  monsieur." 

"  You  have  hoped  to  secure  eet  again.?" 

"  No,  I  have  held  no  such  hope,"  she  replied  truthfully. 

M.  Theuriet  faced  her  squarely. 

"I  will  tell  you  why  I  hav'  wished  to  see  zese,"  he  said. 
"  I  hav'  zis  night  heard  zat  zare  ees  a  whispair  zat  ze  jewels  of 
which  Ricardo  Zurita  disposed  were  the  propairte  ov  senoras 
here  een  Habana  —  women  abov'  suspicion  who  hav'  done 
what  zey  could  to  help  ze  rebel  cause.  I  hav'  remembered 
your  words  ov  zis  afternoon.  You  would  be  one  to  do  so  fatal 
a  zing.  I  ask  for  your  jewels.  I  find  one,  ze  most  expensiv' 
one,  gone.     Zare  ees  but  one  zing  to  zink.     I  zink  eet." 

Raquel  did  not  permit  her  eyes  to  quail  before  his.  She 
herself  might  have  been  the  accuser,  so  queenly  did  she  look. 

"  I  could  not  be  a  coward,  monsieur,  because  you  are  one," 
she  said  quietly.  "  I  will  allow  you  to  think  what  you  please. 
You  must  ask  me  no  questions.     I  shall  answer  none." 

"  You  will  need  to  answer  zem  to  ozairs  zan  me,"  he  cried 
angrily,  "  eef  ze  Senorita  Zurita  tells  zat  which  the  govern- 
ment zinks  zat  she  knows!  She  ees  kept  undair  guard,  know 
you  zat.?" 

"  Since  when?"  demanded  Raquel. 

"  I  hav'  not  asked  zat.  I  hav'  leestened  to  zat  which  was 
told  me.  I  hav'  determined  to  fin'  how  far  your  lov'  for 
Cuba  has  carried  you  eento  danger.  Now  zat  I  fin',  I  shall 
waste  no  time  een  leaving  Habana  far  behind.  You  hav'  im- 
periled everyzingi" 

"  I  have  done  nothing  of  the  sort,"  Raquel  told  him  calmly, 
though  every  nerve  was  quivering  with  the  shock  of  what  had 
befallen  Ricardo's  sister.  "  It  is  your  own  tongue  and  appar- 
ent suspicion  that  will  get  us  into  trouble.  Who  knows  what 
ears  may  have  heard  your  excited  words?" 

••  You  shall  tell  me  eef  zat  beautiful  epingle  was  offaired 
up  to  ze  eensane  idea  ov  aiding  zese  scoundrels  ov  brigands." 

"  What  matter  since,  if  it  were  among  those  so  offered,  it 
fell  into  the  hands  of  Spain?"  queried  Raquel,  feeling  as  if  she 
were  turned  into  ice.  "  I  will  tell  you  nothing,  because  I  know 
nothing  of  its  whereabouts.     If  you  prefer  to  believe  that  I 


268  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

gave  it  to  the  Cuban  cause,  you  are  at  liberty  to  think  so. 
You  know  where  my  heart  is.  Is  it  because  of  this  that  you 
leave  for  the  plantation?" 

"  No.  I  had  made  my  plans  before  I  hav'  learned  zis.  I  go 
zat  I  may  keep  my  honor." 

"  In  what  way  is  it  threatened?"  questioned  Raquel.  "  You 
will  never  be  suspected  of  afiEording  aid  to  the  insurgents." 

"  I  go  to  prevent  zat  diablo  ov  a  Nicolas  Valdes  from  steal- 
ing away  my  wife,"  Theuriet  said,  rising  to  his  feet  and  ex- 
pecting to  see  her  grow  pale.  Instead,  the  girl  burst  into 
laughter,  hysterical  laughter  to  be  sure,  but  it  disconcerted 
M.  Theuriet  none  the  less. 

"Poor  Valdes!"  she  cried,  "No  doubt  he  would  be  flat- 
tered to  find  that  you  deem  him  a  rival,  but  he  is  languishing 
for  Pepita." 

"  Men  do  not  languish  wiz  such  looks  een  zeir  eyes  as  he 
gav'  to  you  zis  night!"  Theuriet  returned.  "  Zink  you  zat  I 
hav'  seen  nozing?  I  hav'  been  where  I  could  look  at  your 
face,  Madame  Theuriet.  I  hav'  zis  night  watched  you  grow 
flushed  and  pale  beneath  his  eyes.  I  hav'  understood,  at 
last.  Now  I  say  to  myselv:  'You  hav'  been  blind!  Eet  ees 
not  only  her  patriotism  zat  you  hav'  to  fear;  you  hav'  also  zis 
lovair,  Nicolas  Valdes.'  You  shall  tell  me  what  you  hav" 
said  to  heem  zat  brought  zat  smile  ov  satisfaction  to  his  face." 

Raquel's  eyes  flamed  into  anger.  She  was  on  the  point  of 
denying  indignantly  his  accusation,  when  she  realized  that  to 
convince  him  of  the  utter  falsity  of  his  suppositions  would  be 
to  awaken  suspicions  far  more  dangerous  to  the  Cause. 

"  Why  should  you  single  out  Valdes?"  she  inquired  with  an 
assumption  of  carelessness.     "  I  talk  much  more  with  others." 

"  Eet  ees  posseebl',  but  you  hav'  not  looked  at  ozairs  as 
you  hav'  zis  night  looked  at  heem." 

"  Perhaps  you  have  forgotten  a  conversation  that  we  had 
at  the  sugar  plantation  before  I  became  your  wife,"  she  said 
retrospectively.  "  You  prophesied  that  love  would  be  made 
to  me,  but  that,  such  being  the  case,  imhappiness  should  not 
come  to  you,  for  your  joy  would  be  found  in  making  me 
happy.  Now  that  you  fancy  that  I  am  happy,  you  seek  to  put 
an  end  to  it." 

"  I  hoped  to  hav'  made  you  lov'  me,  inysdv,  before  zis, 
Raquel."  he  urged.     "  I  am  human.     I  cannot  stand  quiet  and 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  269 

see  you  tak'  plaisir  can  ze  societe  ov  a  man  who  transfers  his 
attentions  as  quicklee  as  he  has  from  the  Seiiora  de  Urquiza 
to  you.  I  will  not  see  myselv  made  ze  jest  ov  ze  eentire  city  ! 
Zis.  added  to  what  I  hav'  discovaired  about  ze  jewels,  con- 
vinces me  zat  even  anozair  day  een  ze  capital  ees  dangerous. 
How  know  we  what  ordairs  may  be  issued?  What  may  not  ze 
Senorita  Zurita  tell?"' 

"  I  have  not  admitted  that  the  poor  child  can  reveal  any- 
thing that  will  endanger  inc,''  Raquel  reminded  him.  "  Some- 
thing must  be  done  to  help  her!"  she  continued  anxiously. 
"  You  need  not  expect  that  I  will  go  from  Havana  and  leave 
that  little  woman  to  whatever  fate  Spanish  justice  may  de- 
cree. I  will  go  to  General  Campos  myself  and  plead  for  her. 
He  is  fair-hearted.     He  might  listen." 

"  Not  one  step  shall  you'  tak'  from  zese  walls  unteel  we 
leave  for  ze  steamer!"  the  old  Frenchman  shrieked  as  he 
freshly  realized  how  impotent  he  really  was  to  deal  with  this 
fearless  spirit  of  young  Cuba.  "  Hav'  you  not  imperilled 
enough?  Would  you  wish  your  papa  and  myselv  locked  in  ze 
fortress?  I  will  mak'  a  prisoner  ov  you  here!  I  will  watch 
ovair  you!  You  hav'  no  weesdom!  Ah,  you  will  drive  me 
crazy  !     Alon  Dicu  !  " 

Raquel  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  floor.  She  looked  like 
Medea.  There  was  that  in  her  powerful  eyes  which  told 
her  husband  how  little  she  feared  him.  His  terror  and  anxiety 
showed  her  that,  possibly,  she  was  selfish  in  her  desire  to  aid 
the  Cause.  His  safety,  his  property,  and  that  of  her  father  lay 
in  her  hands.  Had  she  any  right  to  endanger  them  for  the 
doubtful  chance  of  benefiting  the  Seiiorita  Zurita?  Were 
there  other  things  she  must  consider  besides  her  absorbing 
craving  to  help  Cuba? 

"  If  I  am  such  a  menace  to  all  that  is  dear  to  me,  lose  no 
time  in  taking  me  from  Havana,"  she  said  with  emphasis, 
seeming  to  accept  his  government  with  a  grace  that  her  eyes 
belied.     "  There  will  be  other  fields  for  action." 

■'  £>tc)s  guard !"  cried  Theuriet.     "  Not  for  you,  Raquel !" 

"  Who  knows?"  she  retorted.  "  All  Cuba  will  be  swept  by 
dauntless,  tireless  Cuban  feet  before  this  year  is  ended. 
Even  now  is  not  the  entire  island  in  commotion?  Spain  calls 
the  insurrection  crushed,  yet  she  is  sending  ten  fresh  battal- 
ions of  infantry." 


2  70  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  How  hear  you  zese  zings,  Raquel?"  demanded  M.  Theu- 
riet,  aghast.     "  How  dare  you  repeat  zem?" 

"  They  are  repeated  to  me  by  wives  whose  husbands  intrust 
them  with  encouraging  news  for  the  Spaniards.  You  are  in 
favor  of  Spanish  tyranny;  why  should  not  your  wife  be  told 
all  favorable  reports  for  the  Crown?"' 

"  I  hav'  nevair  said  zat  I  am  een  sympathy  wiz  tyranny," 
protested  M.  Theuriet. 

"  But  you  do  not  say  that  you  sympathize  with  the  revolu- 
tionists," commented  Raquel.  "  It  is  impossible  to  remain  neu- 
tral in  this  matter." 

"  Eet  ees  posseebl'  and  I  mean  to  do  eet,"  declared  the 
Frenchman.  "  I  am  not  going  to  see  my  estate  seized  by 
Spain  because  ov  incautious  utterances.  You  call  me  a  cow- 
ard. Ze  wise  man  ees  zat  one  who  knows  when  eet  ees  best 
to  seem  a  coward.  No  man  ees  brave  continuously.  Bravery 
ees  spasmodic,  especiallee  een  Cuba.  My  words  will  be  proven 
true  when  zese  revolutionists  geeve  up  zeir  battle  against 
Spain ;  for  geeve  eet  up  zey  will !  Zeir  courage  will  wear  out 
when  eet  faces  starvation  and  defeat.  General  Campos  will 
cornair  zem.  Zey  will  surrendair.  Ah,  zare  hav'  been  ozair 
uprisings!  I  hav'  lived  longair  zan  you;  you  will  see  ray 
wisdom." 

"  You  malign  your  own  nation,  monsieur,"  Raquel  returned. 
"  What  braver  men  has  the  world  known  than  your  country- 
men.'' Bravery  is  not  spasmodic.  It  is  one  with  the  fibre  of 
the  human  heart.  Danger  allures  man.  He  goes  to  meet  it, 
and  thrusts  his  defiance  in  its  face.  Neither  starvation,  tor- 
ture, nor  death  will  rob  the  Cubans  of  bravery.  They  fight 
for  the  future  of  their  country,  the  freedom  from  galling 
chains." 

All  the  evening  M.  Theuriet  had  spread  the  report  that  he 
was  summoned  back  to  his  estates  in  the  greatest  haste.  And, 
owing  to  his  vigilance  and  the  speed  with  which  he  transacted 
affairs,  he  succeeded  in  embarking  fi'om  Havana  without  giv- 
ing Raquel  opportunity  to  exchange  a  word  with  any  one  save 
in  his  presence. 

As  the  steamer  passed  the  Moro,  which  has  kept  so  well  its 
ghastly  secrets,  Raquel 's  heart  sunk  within  her.  Her  anxiety 
to  learn  Ricardo's  fate  made  her  every  nerve  tense.  Probably 
no  one  ever  would  know  more  concerning  him.     If  he  had  a 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  27 1 

burial-place,  it  would  be  only  another  one  of  those  that  Spain 
guards  silently.  She  was  depressed.  Despite  Pepita's  in- 
structions that  she  must  not  trust  too  much  to  the  accuracy 
of  government  reports,  she  was  weighed  down  by  the  informa- 
tion that  M.  Theuriet  had  given  her.  It  was  claimed  that  the 
rebels  had  sustained  a  severe  loss  that  morning  near  Bayamo. 
That  Jiguani  ever  had  been  captured  by  the  insurgents  was 
emphatically  denied.  No  report  was  allowed  to  reach  the  peo- 
ple of  Gomez's  victory  over  the  Spaniards  at  Jarajueta  nor  of 
the  battle  in  Puerto  Principe,  where  the  Spanish  loss  was  six 
hundred  and  ninety-two  killed  and  wounded  and  three  hun- 
dred prisoners. 

The  little  steamer  drowsed  along  on  its  course  as  though 
there  were  no  such  things  as  war  or  urgent  business.  It  had  for 
passengers,  however,  several  naval  officers  whose  destination 
was  Sagua  la  Grande.  These  devoted  themselves  assiduously 
to  Raquel's  entertainment,  and  irritated  her  almost  beyond  the 
point  of  endurance  by  the  confidence  with  which  they  asserted 
that  another  month  would  see  the  leaders  of  the  revolution 
prisoners  of  the  Crown. 

When  they  had  travelled  as  far  inland  as  Taguayabon,  M. 
Theuriet  learned,  to  his  consternation,  that  the  remainder  of 
the  trip  would  have  to  be  made  by  carriage,  as  the  insurgents 
had  destroyed  the  bridges  and  culverts. 

"Moil  Dieii !  Ees  eet  possebl'  zat  zey  hav'  crept  up  zis 
far?"  he  exclaimied,  looking  at  Raquel's  gratified  counte- 
nance. 

"  The  whole  province  is  honeycombed  with  them,  seiior," 
replied  the  official  who  had  imparted  the  news  concerning  the 
impairing  of  the  railroad.  "  You  have  come  from  Havana  and 
know  not  this?  Does  Spain  believe  she  is  conquering  these 
fellows?  They  are  stronger  than  ever.  The  railway  and  tele- 
graph lines  are  to  be  rebuilt  and  improved  through  Manza- 
nillo,  Bayamo,  Puerto  Principe,  Santa  Cruz,  San  Luis,  and 
Soriano.  Under  Maceo,  it  is  said,  scfior  inio,  that  the  insur- 
gents derailed  a  train  that  carried  a  load  of  Spanish  soldiers! 
What  are  we  to  expect?  Spain  must  send  us  more  soldiers! 
This  coast  is  unprotected.  Roloff  is  destroying  railways 
everywhere." 

Raquel  turned  upon  her  husband  with  a  smile  when  they 
were  en  route  for  the  plantations.     She  had  dreaded  this  re- 


2  72  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

turn  to  what  threatened  to  be  the  old  inaction.  These  ac- 
counts of  the  ceaseless  activity  of  the  rebel  forces  encouraged 
her.  She  did  not  dream  that  she  was  going  into  an  arena 
compared  with  which  her  perilous  work  in  the  capital  had 
been  child's  play. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

"  I  HAVE  the  Cuban  revolutionary  fever,  Beatrice !  I  am 
going  down  there  with  Zunega  to  help  strike  the  blow  which 
shall  bring  the  island  her  freedom." 

Lithgow  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  studio  and  regarded  her 
with  eyes  that  sought  to  read  through  the  careless  demeanor 
she  wore. 

"I  would  go  too,  if  I  might,"  answered  Beatrice,  pinching 
up  a  bit  of  clay  between  her  thumb  and  forefinger  thought- 
fully. "  Instead,  I  have  done  what  I  could.  Shall  I  show  you 
what  it  is?" 

Lithgow's  face  was  full  of  questioning.  He  made  no  as- 
sent, for,  without  waiting  for  his  reply,  she  had  gone  to  the 
great  creation  which  had  been  the  chief  occupant  of  the  studio 
for  many  weeks.  She  began  to  unwrap  the  damp  cloths 
which  swathed  the  clay  production. 

Lithgow  drew  close  to  her  but  she  motioned  him  away. 

"  Stand  at  a  distance  please,"  she  begged.  "  I  want  to  see 
the  impression  it  makes  on  you.  You  need  say  nothing.  I 
shall  be  able  to  read  your  countenance." 

Lithgow  several  times  had  essayed  to  obtain  a  glimpse  of 
this  figure,  but  to  all  of  his  queries  Beatrice  had  returned 
evasive  answers.  Now  that  he  was  to  be  the  first  one  to  view 
it,  he  waited  its  exhibition  with  eager  impatience.  It  was  the 
largest  work  the  young  sculptor  ever  had  attempted,  and 
with  all  his  soul,  Lithgow  hoped  that  it  would  be  something 
which  would  add  to  the  fame  which  she  already  had  achieved 
as  a  faithful  worker  whom  it  would  be  well  to  watch  with  in- 
terest. She  had  maintained  such  silence  in  regard  to  it  that 
his  curiosity  had  been  whetted.  He  was  almost  anxious,  he 
realized. 

"  I'll  shut  my  e3'es,"  he  volunteered;  "  then,  when  you  say 
'Ready,"  it  shall  burst  upon  me  with  all  its  magnificence." 


A   DAUGHTER  OF  CUBA.       •  273 

Beatrice  smiled  slightly.  She  continued  to  unwind  the 
wrappings.  When  finally  the  last  one  was  laid  aside  she 
looked  at  the  revealed  work  with  a  satisfaction  that  she  could 
not  conceal. 

"  Ready !"  she  said  softly. 

Lithgow  opened  his  eyes  to  behold  a  life-sized  figure  of 
Zuiiega  standing  erect  with  uplifted  sword  over  the  prostrate 
form  of  a  beautiful  creature,  from  whose  wrists  and  ankles 
corroding  chains  had  been  wrenched  away.  The  half-raised 
face  of  the  maiden  was  filled  with  startled,  incredulous  won- 
der, as  she  appeared  to  realize  that  the  bondage  she  had  borne 
so  long  was  a  thing  of  the  past.  From  the  stern,  dauntless 
visage  of  him  who  had  freed  her  shone  out  the  soul  of  liberty, 
progress,  and  light.  All  of  the  fire,  the  faith,  the  courage  of 
the  long-suffering  sons  of  Cuba  seemed  merged  into  that 
countenance  which  Beatrice  had  moulded  with  inspired  fin- 
gers. From  the  sad  melancholy  of  the  eyes  an  infinite  pity 
looked  forth  yearningly,  as  if  viewing  the  graves  of  the  gallant 
Spanish  youths  whom  Spain  had  offered  up  so  heartlessly  to 
feed  her  cruel  ambition. 

Lithgow  was  silent.  He  had  no  words.  He  was  surprised 
out  of  speech. 

Satisfied  with  his  voiceless  verdict,  Beatrice  began  cover- 
ing the  work  again. 

"Don't— yet!"   cried  Lithgow  with  a  break  in   his  tone. 
"  Let  me  view  it  longer.     '  Ciilki  Lil>rc!'  I  never  supposed  that 
you  would  do  such  work  as  this.  Bee!     You  will  be  famous." 
"  It  will  be  owing  to  Zuiiega,    then,"  she  said  modestly. 
"  It  was  all  in  his  face." 

"  He  must  sec  it!"  Lithgow  exclaimed  eagerly.  "  Let  me 
go  and  get  him." 

Beatrice  shook  her  head. 

"  Not  now,"  she  refused.  "  It  would  take  too  long.  He 
may  come  to-morow.  Perhaps  he  will  not  like  it!  I  dared  to 
take  his  face  because  it  is  that  of  a  hero,  such  an  one  as  we 
dream  of  heroes  as  possessing." 

"I  believe  that  you  have  fallen  in  love  with  him,  Bee,"  de- 
clared Lithgow  teasingly.  "What  else  could  enable  you  to 
interpret  Zuiiega's  nature  as  you  have?  I  always  have  seen 
it  in  him,  but  I  could  not  express  it." 

"Neither  could  I— in  words,"  answered  the  sculptor.     "I 
18 


2  74  ^    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

see  that  in  his  eyes  which  I  hear  in  music — something  that; 
thrills  me.  It  is  something  intangible.  Have  j'ou  never  ftit 
it  when  music  throbbed  about  you?" 

Lithgow's  memory  .went  back  unbidden  to  that  night  of  the 
contradanza.  Softness  and  tenderness  crept  into  his  face. 
Even  the  thought  of  it  moved  him.  « 

"  You  know  how  Jean  Paul  Richter  voiced  it,"  Beatrice 
continued.  "  'Thou  speakest  to  me  of  things  which  in  all  my 
endless  life  I  have  not  found  and  shall  not  find.'  Those  words 
come  ever  to  me  when  I  look  into  the  eyes  of  Zunega.  There  is 
a  sadness  in  them  as  if  they  peered  back  through  interminable 
years;  there  is  a  prophecy  in  them  as  if  they  looked  forward 
endlessly.  They  entrance  me  with  their  mystery  as  music 
does." 

Lithgow  came  back  to  the  present.  He  listened  to  her 
dreamy  words  with  intense  surprise  in  which  was  mingled 
pain.  He  knew  how  completely  Zunega  was  bound  up  in  the 
determination  to  merit  the  praise  of  the  white-robed  girl  who 
had  awakened  him  to  life  in  the  depths  of  the  forest. 

"  You  have  lost  your  heart  to  him,  Beatrice,"  he  said  gent- 
ly. "  Perhaps  you  are  not  aware  of  it;  but  nothing  but  love 
— unrecognized,  if  you  will — could  bring  such  words  to  your 
lips;  nothing  but  love  could  read  his  heart  and  put  into  his 
face  what  you  have  put  there.  You  have  met  your  master, 
Beatrice — and  it  is  not  I !" 

No  smile  came  to  Beatrice's  lips;  and  no  denial.  There 
was  no  smile  on  Lithgow's.  He  was  in  deadly  earnest.  Did 
he  not  know  what  love  was?  Had  he  not  battled  with  it  with 
what  strength  he  could  ever  since  that  night  when  he  had 
touched  Raquel's  hand  in  the  moonlight? 

Beatrice  stood  still,  looking  into  his  eyes  with  a  dawning 
realization  in  her  own. 

Suddenly  she  put  both  of  her  hands  to  her  face  and  re- 
mained motionless,  her  head  bent  before  him. 

Lithgow  was  irresolute  for  a  moment,  during  which  some- 
thing stung  his  eyeballs  like  fire.  To  see  Beatrice,  she  the 
strong,  the  unyielding — to  see  her  conquered  like  this!  He 
told  himself  that  he  might  have  known  that  love  would  not 
come  to  her  as  it  came  to  other,  lesser  women.  He  dared  to 
go  to  her.  He  put  his  arms  around  her  with  the  gentleness  of 
a  brother.      He  pressed  her  face  against   his  shoulder   and 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  275 

patted  her  hair  with  quick,  nervous  touch.  She  did  not 
draw  herself  away.  She  appeared  scarce  conscious  what  he 
did.     It  was  as  if  some  shock  had  dazed  her. 

"  It  comes  to  all  of  us,  dear,"  he  whispered,  "  and  it  often 
comes  in  unappointed  ways.  It  is  something  to  be  thankful 
for.  something  to  thank  God  for.  It  is  not  the  being  loved  that 
constitutes  happiness,  it  is  the  fact  of  loving.  All  the  devo- 
tion which  I  could  have  offered  you  would  not  have  won  you 
the  deep,  satisfying  joy  of  discovering  that  you  are  capable  of 
love  yourself.  It  is  something  to  be  able  to  love  in  this  age  of 
the  world,  Beatrice!  It  is  worth  life— worth  all  the  trouble  of 
living— to  find  that  the  lofty  spirit  which  has  swayed  the 
mighty  in  the  past  is  just  as  powerful,  just  as  mysterious  to- 
day. You  have  not  known  what  love  is,  Beatrice !  It  is  not 
every  nature  that  can  feel  it.  though  every  individual  is  will- 
ing to  swear  that  he  does.  The  high  name  is  dragged  down 
to  adorn  baser  affections.  When  love  comes,  it  uplifts.  Its 
fair  face  drives  out  the  base.  It  resurrects  the  true ;  it  des- 
troys all  that  cannot  bear  its  white  light.  You  see  I  know 
what  love  is.  Bee.  Love  has  done  this  for  me.  I  don't  know 
what  it  will  do  for  you,  except  place  your  fingers  on  the  pulse 
of  the  world." 

Beatrice  lifted  her  face.  There  were  tears  on  it.  She  did 
not  wipe  them  away.  She  made  no  foolish  effort  to  convince 
him  that  all  his  conjectures  were  wrong.  She  was  lost  in 
wonder  concerning  the  truth  of  his  words.  Did  she  love  this 
Cuban  with  the  countenance  of  a  conqueror?  She  knew  well 
that  he  loved  the  seiiorita  of  the  sugar  plantation.  She  re- 
leased herself  from  Lithgow's  tender  arm  and  went  and  sat 
down  on  the  old  settle. 

■■  He  must  not  know  a  word  of  this,"  she  said  with  her 
usual  directness.  "  I  am  aware  that  he  loves  the  little  Cuban 
girl  whom  you  love.  He  must  never  dream  that  he  has  van- 
quished an  American  girl  without  even  a  shot  in  her  direction." 

Lithgow  fell  back  a  pace.     She  had  taken  him  by  storm. 

"  I  never  have  told  you  that  I  loved  any  one — but  you,"  he 
said. 

"  You  did  not  need  to  tell  me,"  she  returned,  glancing  up 
at  him  with  symptoms  of  her  old  reliant  self.  "  I  knew  it  with- 
out. I  am  sorry  if — this  has  come — for — him.  I — I — wanted 
to  love  "ou!" 


376  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Lithgow  sat  down  beside  her. 

"  Well,  since  you  say  that  I  love  some  one  else — mind,  I  do 
not  confess  it — and  I  know  thaX  you  love  some  one  else,  can  we 
not  start  anew  ?" 

She  leaned  toward  him  anxiously. 

"  Promise  me  that  you  never  will  tell  him,  Lithgow,"  she 
insisted. 

"  I  promise,"  said  Lithgow  honestly.  "  I  never  will  tell 
him ;  but  you  forget  that  the  little  Cuban  girl  of  whom  you 
speak  is  the  wnfe  of  M.  Theuriet.     She  cannot  be  Zuiiega's." 

"  That  makes  no  difference,"  Beatrice  replied.  "  He  loves 
her  and  he  cannot  help  it.  He  revealed  that  to  me.  Such  a 
love  does  no  wrong;  it  is  an  honor  to  the  woman  who  can  in- 
spire it.  It  is  odd  that  she  should  have  the  love  of  both  of 
you,  yet — she  married  another." 

"  She  does  not  know  that  Zufiega  cares  for  her,"  answered 
Lithgow,  "  while  I — there  is  nothing  to  prove  that  your  sus- 
picions are  correct." 

"  Except  your  eyes,"  smiled  Beatrice.  "  They  tell  no  un- 
truths." 

She  arose  with  a  sigh  and  went  to  complete  her  task  of 
placing  the  cloths  about  the  clay  again. 

"  I  wish  you  had  not  told  me,  Lithgow,"  she  said.  "  I  was 
happier  before." 

"  I  wonder  if  the  coming  of  love  brings  sorrow,"  he  ques- 
tioned. "  There  never  are  shadows  until  the  sun  bursts  forth. 
Previous  to  that,  all  has  been  the  darkness  of  night  or  the  gray- 
ness  of  gloom.  A  landscape  owes  its  beauty  largely  to  shad- 
ows. A  life  may  owe  its  grace  and  perfection  to  sorrow. 
Whether  this  love  brings  you  happiness  or  not,  Beatrice,  there 
is  one  thing  which  it  cannot  fail  to  give  you — the  power  to 
read  others.  To  him  who  has  known  love,  temptation,  and 
sorrow,  these  lines  are  filled  with  meaning: 

"'Since  I  have  walked  with  these  immortal  three. 
There  is  naught  written  on  my  brother's  brow 
Nor  in  his  heart  but  mine  may  understand. ' 

"To  you,  who  have  the  gift  of  making  inanimate  clay 
speak,  love  will  be  a  revelator.  It  is  necessary  to  your  work; 
otherwise  you  would  be  as  many  of  your  fellow-artists 
are.  mechanical — lacking  the  understanding  that  clears  your 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  2  77 

vision  and  lets  you  look  deep  into  the  human  heart.  All  the 
tragedy  of  life  is  held  in  one  soul.  Depict  that,  and  the  world 
will  recognize  and  worship." 

Beatrice  looked  at  him  with  quick  comprehenson. 

"  Lithgow,  I  have  underrated  you,"  she  said  humbly. 
"  You  are  nobler  than  I  dreamed.  You  have  thoughts  that  I 
did  not  know  you  entertained.  I  feel  that  I  know  you  better 
in  this  last  half-hour  than  ever  before." 

"  Didn't  you  know  that  all  humans  go  veiled?"  queried 
Lithgow.  "  We  hide  behind  our  unreal  selves  all  our  lives. 
We  peer  forth  as  the  Oriental  women  do  from  their  yasmaks, 
and  we  smile  to  think  that  none  of  the  other  veiled  figures 
know  our  dear,  secret  selves.  We  permit  them  to  think  we 
are  consumed  by  the  ambitions,  the  passions  that  moi'-e  the 
rest  of  the  mass;  we  rejoice  to  feel  that  they  cannot  read  our 
mighty  yearnings,  our  lofty  aspirations,  our  outreaching  soul 
cries.  You  know  now  that,  for  a  moinent,  we  have  stood  face 
to  face.  We  never  may  again.  You  will  be  shrouded  like 
your  mummified  creation  there.  I  will  be  the  jester  that  you 
so  often  call  me.     But  we  will  not  forget!" 

An  eager  knock  fell  on  the  door. 

Beatrice  opened  it  to  find  Zufiega  standing  there,  hat  in 
hand. 

"  Seiior  Hamilton,  I  seek  him,"  he  said  inquiringly.  "  I 
have  good  news!" 

"  Here  I  am!"  cried  Lithgow.     "  What  is  it?" 

"  There  will  be  no  trouble  about  the  clearance  papers. 
They  can  be  made  out  for  Bluefields.  We  are  to  start  south 
to-night." 

"  Viva  Cuba!  Cuba  librc!"  shouted  Lithgow,  catching  Zu- 
iiega's  hat  from  his  hand  and  giving  it  an  enthusiastic  toss 
into  the  air.  "  And  the  seven  hundred  of  your  countrymen, 
where  do  they  join  us?" 

'•  It  is  all  arranged.  We  pick  them  and  the  dynamite  up  on 
the  Gulf  Coast  where  it  has  been  concealed  for  months.  The 
schooner  is  loaded  now  with  the  rifles  and  ammunition,  but 
we  are  supposed  to  sail  with  a  load  of  lumber." 

"Then  we  have  not  a  moment  to  lose!"  exclaimed  Lith- 
gow. "  I  have  just  confessed  to  Miss  Warrington  my  inten- 
tion of  accompanying  you.  I  supposed  it  would  take  days  yet 
to  get  matters  settled." 


278  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

He  moved  about  as  if  preparing  to  take  his  departure, 
then  remembered  the  statue  behind  him.  He  turned  sud- 
denly and  found  that  Zuiiega  had  advanced  and  was  gazing  up 
at  the  work  with  wide  eyes. 

Beatrice  had  not  uttered  a  w^ord  save  to  welcome  Zunega. 
Now  she  watched  him  with  a  hesitating  expectancy  in  her 
face. 

Lithgow  remained  silent.  He  also  watched,  while  varying 
expressions  crept  swiftly  over  the  youth's  features,  puzzle- 
ment, incredulity,  recognition,  delight. 

"  Ah,  it  is  the  face  of  Marti!"  he  cried.  "  See  the  look  in 
his  eyes,  seiior!" 

"  Bravo,  Zuiiega!"  Lithgow  said  quickly.  "  Only  a  Cuban 
could  wear  that  look!  How  well  you  recognize  the  yearning 
that  shines  from  the  eyes  of  those  who  love  the  island!  This 
is 'Cuba  Libre!'  It  is  Miss  Warrington's  prophecy  of  what 
will  crown  the  struggle  into  which  we  are  going." 

Zuiiega  turned  his  eloquent  countenance  toward  her.  It 
held  astonishment  and  reverence.  He  bowed  his  head  until 
the  silky,  black  hair  fell  forward. 

"  In  the  name  of  my  country,  in  the  name  of  all  Cubans, 
I  thank  you,"  he  said  in  the  soft,  broken  English  he  had 
learned  to  speak.  "  Jose  JNIarti  will  be  her  savior.  His  name 
ever  will  be  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  her  people.  God 
guard  him !" 

Beatrice  was  comparing  the  face  of  the  clay  figure  with 
that  of  Zuiiega.  They  were  identical,  line  for  line,  feature  for 
feature.  The  rapid  work  she  had  done  in  the  short  time  she 
had  had  before  they  had  gone  to  England  had  been  splendid 
in  its  force.  It  had  a  strength  that  other  work  of  hers  lacked. 
She  was  surprised  that  Zuiiega  did  not  recognize  himself. 
Never  had  she  seen  Marti.  She  was  on  the  point  of  telling 
him  so,  when  Lithgow  silenced  her  with  a  meaning  look  that 
she  did  not  understand,  but  obeyed.  He  had  conceived  a  pro- 
ject that  Zunega's  mistake  made  all  the  more  possible  of  be- 
ing carried  to  success.  He  meant  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
Cuban  organizations  to  this  production.  Put  into  bronze,  it 
would  be  a  grand  and  a  fitting  statue  for  exiled  Cubans  to  pre- 
sent to  their  freed  land  when  its  liberty  was  acknowledged  by 
Spain — as  it  would  be.  But  he  knew  that  Zuiiega,  if  he  sup- 
posed that  the  figure  of  the  liberator  was  his  own,  would  give 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  279 

no  support  to  the  matter.  Now  that  Zunega  had  mentioned 
it.  Lithgow  could  see  that  there  was  the  same  resemblance  to 
Marti  in  the  clay  that  he  had  noticed  in  Zunega  the  first  night 
at  the  Cuban  meeting.  Whether  Marti  or  Zunega,  the  figure 
represented  Cuba's  own  son.  It  would  be  welcomed  by  all 
Cubans  as  a  type  of  the  courageous  manhood  that  had  shed  its 
blood  for  the  island  it  adored.  Before  he  left  for  the  scene  of 
the  conflict  he  resolved  to  apprise  the  prominent  New  York 
Cubans  of  this  which  had  come  from  the  fingers  of  a  freedom- 
loving  American  girl.  But  Beatrice  was  to  know  nothing  of 
it.  If  she  received  a  commission  to  put  the  conception  into 
bronze  or  marble,  never  should  she  know  of  the  part  he  had 
played  in  bringing  to  her  the  recognition  her  labor  deserved. 

"  While  we  are  helping  to  win  liberty  for  Cuba,  Miss  War- 
rington will  be  winning  fame  here,"  he  said  to  Zunega.  "  We 
have  not  much  time  and  I  have  much  to  attend  to,  but  we 
cannot  leave  the  city  without  seeing  the  dear  mother  again. 
Who  knows  what  may  befall  us?  We  may  become  prisoners 
of  Spain.  We  may  be  among  the  fallen  on  a  battlefield.  We 
must  take  her  blessing  with  us.  I  know  of  nothing  so  likely 
to  shield  one  from  harm" — he  looked  at  Beatrice — "  unless  it 
be  the  love — that  will  pray  for  our  success." 

Beatrice  bit  her  under-lip. 

"What  hour  do  you  leave  New  York?"  she  inquired 
abruptly. 

"  Eleven-ten,  I  think,"  answered  Lithgow.  "  You  see  we 
take  control  of  the  boat  near  Mobile.  That  was  decided  on 
three  weeks  ago.  Zuiiega,  being  an  Englishman,  encounters 
less  obstacle  and  fewer  inquiries  than  an  American  or  a 
Cuban  would.  We  have  been  fortunate.  Our  expedition 
will  not  have  to  be  abandoned  like  the  one  off  the  Florida 
coast," 

"  We  are  to  pick  up  some  of  the  munitions  that  it  carried,"' 
smiled  Zuiiega, 

"  Can  you  not  come  out  home  about  eight  o'clock?"  asked 
Beatrice.  "  We  will  wish  you  'God-speed,'  and  you  can  drive 
straight  to  the  depot  from  there.  I  presume  you  will  depart 
without  any  particular  ostentation." 

"  Most  assuredly,"  returned  Lithgow.  "  Those  who  are  to 
be  of  our  number  have  been  vanishing  in  the  same  quiet  way 
for  weeks.     We  will  be  with  you  near  nine,     I  shall  iiave  my 


28o  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

arrangements  completed  by  that  time.  Until  that  hour,  au 
revoir." 

He  took  Zuiiega  with  him.  Let  alone,  Beatrice  finished 
her  task  of  replacing  the  damp  cloths  about  the  clay  figures. 
Then  she  locked  the  door  and  sat  down  on  the  old  settle. 
Sparrows  hopped  about  inquiringly  on  the  window  ledge  and 
peered  in  at  her.  They  never  had  seen  her  sit  thus,  with  fin- 
gers closely  locked  in  her  lap  and  her  golden,  fluflfy  head  bent 
forward. 

The  noise  of  the  city  drifted  up  to  the  north  window. 
Faint  suggestions  of  spring  and  bursting  leaves  came 
dreamily  in  through  the  opening.  As  if  drawn  irresistibly  by 
that  maddening  longing  which  springs  in  the  Northern  heart 
when  the  sap  stirs  in  the  boughs,  she  arose  with  a  deep,  sad 
breath  and  went  and  looked  out  across  the  tops  of  the  build- 
ings to  a  far  blue  line  of  water.  vShe  held  her  hands  tightly 
over  her  heart. 

"  I  thought  love  meant  gladness  and  ecstasy,"  she  mur- 
mured softly.  "  It  means  pain — pain — pain !  But  the  pain  is 
sweet." 

Zuiiega  expressed  his  admiration  for  Beatrice's  work  with 
eager  speech  as  he  and  Lithgow  went  down  the  street.  He 
could  not  find  words  enough  to  suit  the  need.  The  awe 
he  first  had  felt  for  her  had  not  diminished.  This  only  added 
to  it. 

"  She  is  what  the  Seiiorita  Raquel  might  have  been  had  she 
lived  in  any  land  but  Cuba,"  he  cried.  "  She  is  grand,  noble 
— and  the  senorita  is  the  same.  But,  in  the  island,  women 
have  tied  hands.  They  must  do  nothing.  They  know  not 
what  liberty  is  as  the  American  knows  it.  Even  England 
knows  it  not.  There  is  no  land  where  woman  is  free  like  she 
is  here  in  America.  There  is  no  land  where  she  is  revered  so 
much.  Ah,  I  have  learned  a  few  things  since  I  have  become 
i^ord  Harberton.  We  must  make  Cuba  what  America  is; 
but  Cuba  must  rule  herself." 

"Amen,"  said  Lithgow.  "I  told  you  on  the  journey  up 
from  Cuba  that  you  could  give  me  your  opinion  of  Miss  War- 
rington after  you  had  learned  to  know  her.  I  never  have 
asked  for  it.  Now  that  you  have  given  it,  I  will  add  that  she 
is  the  most  noble  girl  I  know.  She  is  beautiful,  she  will  be 
famous — but  she  does  not  love  me." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  28 1 

Zunega  laid  his  hand  sympathetically  on  tlie  American's 
arm. 

"  Is  it  always  so  in  life,  seiior? "  he  said  wistfully.  "  One 
loves  and  the  other  does  not?" 

"Generally  the  right  one  does  not,"  smiled  Lithgow. 
"  You,  however,  will  be  loved  in  return.     You  are  sure  to  be." 

Zunega  shook  his  head, 

"  The  only  one  that  I  care  to  have  love  me — is  another 
man's  wife,"  he  said  with  a  sigh.  "  I  must  love  unrequitedly 
always." 

Beatrice  was  her  old  self  that  night. 

'■  Since  you  have  honored  mamma  and  me  witli  your  last 
precious  moment,  we  will  have  a  little  chafing-dish  supper  to 
celebrate  j'^our  departure,"  she  declared  gayly.  "  I  got  a  lob- 
ster on  my  way  home  from  the  studio  and  carried  it  myself. 
What  do  you  think  of  that?  If  it  does  not  prove  my  admira- 
tion for  Cuba's  heroes  and  my  devotion  to  the  cause  of  lib- 
erty, what  does?" 

Seated  around  the  cosy  table,  with  Mrs.  Warrington  plying 
Zuiiega  with  questions  concerning  his  plans,  they  watched 
Beatrice  concoct  one  of  the  dainty  suppers  for  which  the  War- 
rington house  was  noted  among  those  who  were  admitted 
within  its  sacred  precincts.  Beatrice  never  had  appeared  to 
better  advantage.  Lithgow  laughingly  declared  that,  with 
her  high-necked  ruffled  apron  on,  she  looked  as  she  had 
when  she  had  won  his  heart  in  boyhood.  None  would  have 
dreamed  of  what  lay  beneath  the  surface  of  her  fair,  sweet 
face.  Even  Lithgow,  accustomed  as  he  was  to  woman's  pow- 
er of  concealment,  was  surprised  to  see  how  completely  the 
Beatrice  of  the  afternoon  was  put  out  of  sight. 

"She  has  her  yasmak  on  again,"  he  thought.  "I  may 
never  see  her  minus  it  again." 

When  the  moment  came  for  taking  leave,  Mrs.  Warrington 
impulsively  pulled  Zuiiega's  dark  head  down  to  her  own. 

"  You  have  no  mother  to  kiss  you  'Good-by, '  my  boy,"  she 
said;  "  let  me  bid  you  the  farewell  that  she  would  give  you  if 
she  could." 

Tears  sprung  into  his  eyes.  He  kissed  her  timidly,  grate- 
fully. 

"  You,  senora,  have  taught  me  what  a  mother  is,"  he  whis- 
pered softly. 


282  A    DA  UGH TE J?  OF  CUBA. 

Lithgow  looked  at  Beatrice  with  a  gaze  that  recalled  the 
afternoon.     A  flush  crept  up  through  her  cheeks. 

"  This  is  the  last  word  either  of  you  ever  may  hear  me 
speak,"  he  said  in  quiet  farewell.  "  I  go  without  the  protection 
of  an  American  citizen  when  I  enter  Cuba's  field.  If  I  am 
taken  prisoner,  I  shall  deserve  no  more  consideration  than  if 
I  were  a  Cuban.  Good-by,  dear  little  mother !"  He  placed  his 
arms  about  her  and  kissed  her  tenderly.  "  Be  proud  that  you 
have  two  of  your  boys  in  Cuba's  struggle.  Pray  for  the  hope 
of  the  island." 

To  Beatrice  he  held  out  his  hand.  Its  pressure  was  firm 
and  full  of  meaning. 

When  the  carriage  had  whirled  them  away,  Mrs.  Warring- 
ton placed  a  loving  hand  upon  her  daughter's  shoulder. 

"  I  don't  understand  you,  dear,"  she  said  gently.  "  I  used 
to  think  that  you  liked  Lithgow.  I  hoped — I  may  as  well  con- 
fess it— that  some  time  you  and  he  would  marry.  He  is  all 
that  your  father  was.  I  would  ask  no  better  husband  for 
you." 

"  I  am  never  going  to  marry,  mamma,"  Beatrice  answered. 
"  Art  brooks  no  rival.  Lithgow  asked  me  to  be  his  wife  when 
he  went  to  Cuba.     I  did  not  love  him." 

"But,  you  may — some  day,"  murmured  the  mother,  ven- 
turing to  draw  the  girl  into  her  embrace.  "  His  going  into 
what  may  be  death  for  him  will  teach  you  to  know  your 
heart."  She  pushed  back  the  sunshiny  hair  and  touched  the 
white  forehead  with  tender  lips. 

Beatrice  closed  down  her  lids.  Tears  started  out  from  un- 
der her  lashes. 

"  Isn't  there  pain  in  learning  to  know  one's  heart?"  she  said, 
with  a  sigh  that  endeavored  to  be  a  smile. 

She  watched  the  long  hours  of  the  darkness  away  with 
eyes  that  slept  not.  When  day  broke,  she  turned  on  her  pil- 
lows wearily. 

"  Why  couldn't  it  have  been  Lithgow !"  she  whispered, 
burying  her  face. 

Zuiiega  and  Lithgow  found  the  schooner  ready  for  sailing 
when  they  reached  the  Gulf.  The  utmost  care  had  been  exer- 
cised to  keep  the  authorities  from  discovering  the  real  nature 
of  their  cargo.  It  had  taken  months  of  active  work  on  the 
part  of  Zunega  and  other  patriots  to  get  the  expedition  thus 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  283 

far  along.  Zuiiega's  capital  had  fitted  it  out.  Zuiiega's  or- 
ders were  to  be  obeyed.  The  captain  was  one  to  whom  the 
eastern  coast  of  the  island  was  as  familiar  as  a  playground. 
He  knew  that  he  could  wind  his  boat  in  and  out  among  the 
little  mangrove  isles  with  perfect  ease  where  a  Spanish  gun- 
boat could  not  follow. 

They  cruised  cautiously  along  the  Gulf  coast,  taking  on  at 
different  points  the  refugees  who  were  now  eager  to  go  back 
to  take  part  in  the  wresting  of  Cuba  from  the  tyrant.  The 
captain  knew  that  American  vessels  were  instructed  to  watch 
out  for  just  such  filibustering  ventures  as  this,  and  he  shel- 
tered his  craft  in  many  harbors  unknown  to  marine  charts. 

Owing  to  all  this  prudence,  they  finally  put  out  from  the 
southern  coast  one  dark  night  a  week  after  they  were  supposed 
to  have  embarked.  Swiftly  they  cut  through  the  waters  of 
the  Gulf  and  crept  nearer  and  nearer  the  Cuban  coast,  moving 
down  through  the  Canal  de  Nicolas.  All  one  day  the  boat 
swung  in  the  shelter  of  the  islands  off  the  coast  of  Santa  Clara; 
then,  under  cover  of  the  night,  wound  its  tortuous  way  among 
the  dangerous  reefs  with  stealthy  care.  Its  decks  were 
crowded  with  silent,  anxious  men,  who,  armed  for  conflict, 
stood  ready  to  step  again  on  the  soil  from  which  they  had 
been  banished.  And  each  knew  that  the  land  that  he  loved 
would  be  drenched  with  his  life-blood  before  he  ceased  to 
struggle  to  tear  Cuba  from  the  grasp  of  Spain. 

Zunega  and  Lithgow  stood  apart.  They  were  watching 
with  field-glasses  the  fires  which  they  could  distinguish  were 
being  built  on  the  coast.  Anxiously  they  counted  the  num- 
ber and  position  of  the  ignited  piles. 

"  Btictw!  The  proper  signal  has  been  given!"  exclaimed 
Zunega.  "  Rafael  Castro  was  to  patrol  this  coast  until  we 
landed.  Everything  is  well — unless  the  enemy  have  secured 
our  plans  and  are  luring  us  on  to  land  our  cargo." 

"  Let  us  put  ashore,"  suggested  Lithgow.  "  No  risk  should 
be  taken.  We  can  go  in  one  of  the  small  boats.  Tell  the 
captain  that  if  three  of  the  fires  are  extinguished  after  we  land, 
he  may  know  that  the  coast  is  .safe." 

"And  if  we  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Spaniards.?" 
smiled  Zuiiega.  "Who  knows  what  changes  may  have  taken 
place  since  we  got  news?  Castro  may  have  been  defeated 
and  his  papers   been  taken  possession  of.     But   the  chances 


284  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

are  that  all  is  safe  and  sure.     Twenty  of  us  can  row  ashore. 
Say  you  so?" 

A  boat  was  lowered  and  manned.  It  shot  out  over  the 
phosphorescent  water.  As  it  approached  the  land,  its  occu- 
pants could  discern  that  none  of  Spain's  soldiers  were  among 
the  half-clad  men  who  were  feeding  the  flames  with  armfuls 
of  dead  forest  branches. 

"  Viva  Cuba  libre!"  Every  throat  in  the  band  of  rowing 
men  gave  out  the  cry.  Every  throat  on  shore  took  it  ujo.  The 
very  heavens  seemed  to  ring  with  the  patriotic  words. 

"  What  is  the  latest  news  from  the  front?"  was  Zunega's 
first  inquiry  when  the  boat  was  drawn  up  on  the  beach  by 
eager  hands. 

There  was  sudden,  complete  silence.  Each  man  looked  at 
his  neighbor.  An  ominous  hush  seemed  to  be  breathed  through 
the  night  air. 

"For  amor  de  Dios,  speak!"  cried  Zuiiega.  "Have  we 
lost?" 

Rafael  Castro  removed  his  head-covering.  Each  man  did 
the  same  and  turned  his  face  upward  to  the  mystery  of  the 
stars. 

Zuiiega  felt  a  shiver  of  fear  run  over  him.  He  looked 
around  at  those  who  accompanied  him.  They  had  bared  their 
heads  also.  He  followed  their  example  and,  with  drawn,  anx- 
ious brows,  stood  waiting  for  the  words. 

"  Marti  is  dead .'"  said  Rafael  Castro  sorrowfully. 

Zuiiega  stepped  backward  as  if  he  had  been  struck  a  blow. 

"  Marti  dead?  "  he  cried.     "  Why,  this  is  //is  revolution  !  " 

"  His  death  will  put  no  end  to  the  struggle  which  he  in- 
spired," replied  the  voices  of  those  who  had  watched  for  his 
coming.  "  For  the  love  that  we  bear  him  and  the  land  that 
he  sought  to  urge  onward  to  freedom,  we  will  fight  now  as  we 
had  not  fought  before.  Jose  Marti's  spirit  is  with  us!  He 
leads  us  still!" 

Zunega  drew  himself  to  his  highest  stature.  He  lifted 
high  in  the  night  his  sword. 

"  I,  because  he  was  my  friend  and  my  hero,  will  fight  not 
alone  for  myself.  I  will  fight  for  three:  Jose  Marti,  myself, 
and  the  woman  I  love !" 

"  There  is  not  a  Cuban  arm  but  will  fight  for  the  same." 
cried  the  men  with  one  voice.     "  Spain  has  to  contend  with 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUR  A.  885 

three  men  in  one  when  she  meets  a  Cuban  in  this  last  war  that 
Cuba  means  to  have  with  her!" 

Three  of  the  fires  were  put  out. 

Obedient  to  the  arrangement,  the  schooner  slipped  in 
shore,  guided  by  a  hand  that  knew  every  inch  of  the  perilous 
way. 

The  seven  hundred  who  stepped  forth  on  the  land  with 
their  personal  arms  were  surrounded  by  the  insurgent  forces 
which  had  been  keeping  the  coast  clear. 

The  cargo  which  meant  so  much  to  the  revolutionary  cause 
was  unloaded  and  carried  into  the  mountains. 

The  craft  which  had  performed  such  a  service  for  liberty's 
sake  crept  away  among  the  cayos  again  stealthily. 

It  had  other  work  to  do. 

It  would  come  again. 

The  fires  were  left  to  smoulder.  The  small  army  of  men 
vanished  into  the  mysterious  aisles  of  the  forest  that  covered 
the  mountains  behind  them. 

Zuiiega  threw  back  his  head  and  inhaled  rapturously  the 
beloved  scents  given  out  by  this  crucible  of  the  ages.  He 
caught  Lithgow  by  the  arm. 

"  Ainigo  71110,  you  know  how  I  have  longed  for  this  mo- 
ment," he  said  softly.  "  Does  not  your  blood  course  faster 
through  your  veins?  Does  not  the  odor  of  the  forest  thrill 
you?  Listen!  Hear  you  not  the  voices?  I  have  heard  them 
in  my  sleep  calling,-  calling— calling.  They  are  the  voices 
of  the  forest  spirits." 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

It  was  a  long,  tedious  journey  that  Raquel  and  M.  Theu- 
riet  were  compelled  to  make  to  reach  the  plantations.  M. 
Theuriet  consumed  the  time  in  impressing  on  Raquel's  mind 
how  imprudent  she  had  been  in  Havana.  After  exhausting 
the  subject,  he  would  re-commence  at  the  beginning. 

Raquel,  with  weary  eyes,  sat  in  her  corner  of  the  convey- 
ance and  dreamed  of  the  welcome  which  awaited  her  at  La 
Sacra  Sonrisa.  She  petitioned  her  husband  to  go  directly 
thtre  without  pausing  at  the  coffee  estate.  She  wondered  if 
her  father  yet  had  discovered  that  he  owed  no  man  anything. 


286  A    DAUGHTER    OF    CUBA. 

M.  Theuriet,  unobtrusively,  had  settled  all  of  those  debts  with 
the  Catalans.  She  glanced  at  him  out  of  the  corners  of  her 
eyes. 

"  How  kind  he  has  been  to  me !"  she  told  herself  with  a 
shade  of  reproach,  "  I  suppose  it  is  natural  for  a  man  of  his 
age  to  be  cautious.  His  blood  does  not  stir  with  rage  against 
oppression.  He  has  bowed  beneath  it  so  long.  It  is  true  that 
I  had  no  right  to  risk  his  possessions  because  I  am  willing  to 
offer  even  my  life  to  Cuba!" 

As  the  road  grew  more  familiar  and  they  neared  the  sugar 
plantation,  she  Scarcely  could  restrain  her  impatience.  Her 
father  knew  nothing  of  their  coming.  How  astonished  he 
would  be!  And  he  would  tell  her  how  he  had  missed  her. 
He  had  purposely  refrained  from  speaking  of  it  in  his  letters, 
she  knew. 

Their  arrival  was  discovered  before  they  reached  the  haci- 
enda. Surprised  blacks  surrounded  the  volante,  with  joyful 
cries. 

Gilbert  Palgrave,  summoned  by  the  commotion,  came  from 
the  court.  Scarcely  believing  that  his  eyes  did  not  deceive 
him,  he  rushed  to  welcome  them  with  the  words : 

"  Never  was  there  so  opportune  a  home-coming!" 

The  full  significance  of  his  exclamation  was  not  made  ap- 
parent until  they  were  within  the  sala  and  the  greetings  all 
over;  then  he  placed  in  the  hands  of  M.  Theuriet  a  letter 
which  purported  to  be  from  the  insurgents,  demanding  the  sum 
of  fifteen  thousand  dollars. 

"  Parbleu  !  What  mean  zis?"  cried  the  Frenchman.  "  Zose 
scoundrels,  do  zey  threaten  us?  You  will  defy  zem,  ov 
course." 

"  Is  it  wise  to  do  so?"  questioned  Palgrave.  "  You  have  no 
idea  what  progress  they  have  been  making.  Rumors  reach 
me  that  this  is  no  such  uprising  as  we  fancied.  Would  it  not 
be  best  to  keep  them  our  friends,  if  possible?  They  under- 
stand how  we  are  situated.  They  know  well  that  if  we  openly 
express  sympathy,  Spain  will  confiscate  every  acre  that  be- 
longs to  us.  They  know  also  that  we  are  the  ones  who  will 
be  benefited  if  their  fighting  is  successful.  I  see  no  harm  in 
contributing — or  in  being  forced,  seemingly,  to  contribute — if 
it  does  not  reach  Spain's  ears;  and  how  should  it?" 

"  You  are  mad  to  zink  ov  such  a  zing !"   cried  M.  Theuriet. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  287 

"  Besides,  where  will  you  get  your  fifteen  zou5;and?  I  will  not 
lend  eet  to  you!" 

"  You  have  done  what  is  of  equal  value,  my  friend,"  said 
Palgfrave,  flushing  deeply.  He  arose  and  went  to  Raquel, 
placing  his  arm  about  her  and  tipping  her  face  up  so  that  he 
could  look  down  into  her  eyes. 

"  Did  you  know,  dearie,  that  your  husband  not  only  ex- 
tends the  time  on  the  debt  I  owe  him.  but  has  himself  released 
me  from  the  clutches  of  the  Catalans;  so  that  now  he  is  the 
only  man  ft)  whom  I  owe  a  centavo?  He  has  done  this  because 
I  am  your  father;  I  understand  that,  and  I  am  grateful  to  him 
for  the  deed.  What  I  must  learn  is  this :  did  you  know  that 
he  contemplated  doing  such  a  thing?" 

Raquel  nerved  herself  to  utter  the  untruth  which  she  knew 
was  the  crowning  point  of  her  sacrifice.  To  fail  now  meant 
that  all  that  she  had  given  to  place  her  father  right  financially 
would  be  of  no  value.  He  would  divine  at  once  what  had 
been  the  motive  which  had  made  her  marry  M.  Theuriet. 
She  did  not  permit  her  lids  to  fall.  She  looked  full  into  his 
earnest,  manly,  blue  eyes  as  she  said  with  what  surprise  she 
could  feign: 

"  Has  he  done  this?  He  is  noble,  is  he  not?  But  you  are 
my  father— and  his  father,  now.  It  was  no  more  than  right, 
yet  I  appreciate  it." 

"  Answer  me,"  commanded  Palgrave.  "  Did  you  know  that 
he  was  going  to  do  it?" 

Raquel  heard  M.  Theuriet  lean  forward  in  his  chair.  She 
heard  the  start  he  could  not  repress  when  she  answered : 

"  I  knew  nothing  of  it." 

Gilbert  Palgrave  drew  a  long  breath.  He  bent  and  kissed 
her. 

"  If  you  knew  what  a  load  this  has  been  on  my  mind  since 
I  found  it  out ! "  he  said  with  relief.  "  I  would  not  write  about 
it.  I  wanted  to  put  the  question  to  your  face.  Now  that  I 
know  that  M.  Theuriet  did  it  because  of  his  friendship  for  me 
and  his  belief  that  I  will  be  able  to  lift  the  debt.  I  feel  a  man 
again." 

Theuriet's  eyes  followed  Raquel  as  she  moved  about  the 
room.  He  understood  what  devotion  it  was  which  had  caused 
lier  to  reply  as  she  had.  He  realized  something  of  the  nature 
of  this  creature  whom  he  called  his  wife.     He  knew  well  how 


288  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

distasteful  to  her  was  her  marriage  with  him.  He  had  given 
up  all  hopes  of  making  her  love  him  as  he  had  hoped  that  she 
would.  He  was  content  now  simply  to  possess  her  and  to 
feel  that  in  ways  he  was  her  master.  When  he  had  heard  her 
call  him  noble,  a  warm  glow  had  run  through  his  heart.  In- 
deed, he  thought  that  he  was  nobler  than  she  gave  him  credit 
for.  He  alone  knew  what  it  had  cost  his  soul  when  he  had 
carried  out  Raquel's  wishes  completely  in  the  matter  of  set- 
ting her  father  free.  He  was  ashamed  to  let  her  know  how 
dear  to  him  had  been  the  gold  with  which  he  had  satisfied  the 
Catalans.  But  it  seemed  that  Palgrave  had  not  taken  it  that 
his  debt  to  his  neighbor  was  discharged ;  and  M.  Theuriet  saw 
that  it  was  best  so.  He  would  never  demand  payment,  but 
it  might  be  better  for  Palgrave  to  remain  in  ignorance  of  that. 

"  What  propose  you  to  do?"  tiuestioned  he  of  the  sugar 
planter. 

"  My  inclination  is  to  pay  them  what  they  demand,"  an- 
swered Palgrave.  "  Neither  you  nor  I  can  shut  our  eyes  to 
what  this  means  for  us  if  the  fellows  are  successful." 

"  But  zey  will  not  be !"  M.  Theuriet  shook  his  head. 
"  Your  fifteen  zousand  will  go  to  fill  zeir  pockets." 

"  That  is  not  true,"  Raquel  spoke  suddenly  from  where  she 
stood  inspecting  her  old  books.  "  These  men  are  not  brigands, 
they  are  heroes." 

M.  Theuriet  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"You  and  I  do  not  agree  upon  zat,  c/ic'ric,"  he  returned. 
"  You  will  see  ze  truth  ov  my  words." 

"  But  if  I  give  not  this  monej',  they  threaten,  you  see,  to 
burn  my  cane  before  the  time  for  grinding." 

"Man  Dicu !  Zink  you  zat  General  Campos  will  not  be 
able  to  put  zis  uprising  down  before  zat  time?  Not  one  rebel 
will  be  lef  on  ze  island." 

"  I  cannot  help  feeling  that  you  are  mistaken,"  replied 
Palgrave. 

"  But,  hav'  I  not  just  come  from  Havana?"  cried  the  French- 
man, with  irritation  at  finding  his  opinion  was  not  given  the 
weight  he  felt  it  deserved. 

Raquel  smiled.     Her  back  was  toward  them. 

"  And  you  had  not  heard  that  the  railroads  were  all  de- 
molished in  Santiago  dc  Cuba  and  Puerto  Principe,"'  she 
commented. 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  289 

M.  Theuriet  looked  at  the  back  of  her  head  and  was  silent. 
"  My  answer  is  to  be  given  to-night."  said  Palgrave  with 
visible  anxiety.     "  That  is  why  I  cried  that  never  was  an  ar- 
rival so  needed  as  yours.     I  wanted  your  advice." 

"Yet  you  will  tak'  eetnot!"  said  the  Frenchman,  with  a 
gesture  of  displeasure.  "  How  could  you  produce  zat  sum  ov 
monnaie  by  zis  time?" 

"  I  can  tell  them  when  they  can  have  it,"  returned  Palgave. 
"  I  own  that  it  may  look  odd  to  you,  who  are  my  large  cred- 
itor, that  I  am  ready  to  borrow  this  amount  when  you  have 
just  released  me  from  debt;    but  fifteen  thousand  dollars  is  a 
small  sum  when  compared  with  what  my  crop  will  be  worth. 
If  it  insures  the  safety  of  my  cane,  then  I  will  be  in  a  position 
at  the  close  of  the  year  to  repay  you  somewhat  and  pay  the 
fifteen  thousand  as  well  to  whomever  I  may  borrow  it  of. 
From  my  point  of  view,  it  would  be  economy  in  the  end." 
"  I  would  defy  zem,"  M.  Theuriet  insisted. 
"  And  what  if  they  threaten  your  coffee  crop?"    queried 
Palgrave. 

"  I  should  lik'  to  sec  anyone  who  could  keep  me  from  pick- 
ing eet!"  M.  Theuriet  responded,  with  an  air  as  if  he  had  an 
entire  regiment  to  enforce  his  word.  "  I  am  not  afraid  ov 
zese  rascals." 

"Well,  I  am  glad  that  you  are  not,"  sighed  Gilbert  Pal- 
grave. "  I  know  this ;  they  have  got  to  obtain  support  from 
us  planters  or  else  destroy  our  crops  so  that  Spain  will  not 
reap  the  benefit.  I  mean  to  grind  my  sugar-cane  this  winter. 
How  can  I  do  it  if  it  is  burnt?" 

"  You  will  pairsist  cen  believing  zat  zese  insurgents  are 
more  powerful  zan  zey  are,"  Theuriet  replied  comfortably. 
"  I  will  call  upon  Spain  for  help  ecf  zey  attempt  to  keep  me 
from  picking  my  coffee." 

"  How  long  will  it  take  soldiers  to  reach  here?"  questioned 
Raquel  without  turning  around.  "  With  railroads  destroyed, 
you  would  be  beyond  reach  of  immediate  help.  I  think  papa 
is  right.  Contribute  what  they  ask.  It  is  cowardly  not  to. 
I  knew  all  the  time  that  papa's  heart  was  where  mine  is,  only 
he  has  deemed  it  best  not  to  say  so.  Now  has  come  the  time 
for  action." 

M.  Theuriet  threw  out  his  graceful   fingers  in  a  way  that 
betokened  that  he  declined  to  share  any  responsibility  in  the 
19 


290  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

matter.  "  Eef  you  can  sateesfy  zem  wiz  promises,  well  and 
good,"  h^said.  "  Before  time  to  pay  ze  gold,  zeir  cause  may 
be  lost.  Ees  eet  zis  night  zat  zey  come?  How  was  ze  mes- 
sage lef?" 

"  Pinned  to  the  door  with  a  knife,"  answered  Palgrave. 

"  Let  us  remain  here  until  this  is  over?"  Raquel  said  plead- 
ingly to  M.  Theuriet.  "  No  one  at  La  Buena  Esperanza  knows 
that  we  have  come.  To-morrow  will  do  as  well  for  us  to  go 
home." 

"  It  shall  be  as  you  wish,  jna  chere"  answered  M.  Theuriet. 
"  Your  papa  and  I  hav'  faced  ozair  troubles  togethair.  I  would 
not  wish  heem  to  meet  zis  alone.  Eef  zese  men  are  as  cour- 
teous as  ze  brigand,  Gonzalo  Alarcon — oh,  by  ze  way,  Pal- 
grave, had  you  heard  zat  ze  price  which  has  been  so  long 
placed  on  ze  head  of  Alarcon  is  won?  No-o?  Ah,  ze  word 
arreeved  quicklee  een  Havana!     He  was  hung." 

"  By  whom?"  questioned  the  sugar  planter.  "  It  was  a  fate 
he  deserved  twice  over." 

"  As  I  remembair,  eet  was  ze  insurgents  zemselves  who 
hav'  hung  heem,"  answered  M.  Theuriet  slowly.  "  He  offaired 
gold,  which  he  had  obtained  by  ransom  and  blackmail,  to  ze 
insurgent  leader.     Eet  was  refused  and " 

"  Ah,  does  that  not  prove  to  you  the  nature  of  these  men 
who  are  fighting  for  the  freedom  of  the  island?"  cried 
Raquel. 

"  I  confess  zat  eet  ees  incredeebl',"  Theuriet  admitted, 
"  but,  to  continue,  his  own  men  zen  took  heem  and  not  only 
divided  ze  monnaie  between  zemselves  but  claimed  ze  reward 
oflfaired  for  his  dead  body." 

Raquel  sat  down  suddenly  in  the  estrada  and  leaned  her 
head  back.  The  story  sent  a  horrible  sickness  over  her.  She 
had  known  these  men !  The  very  ones  who  had  peered  at  her  • 
that  night,  as  she  had  sat  with  Zuiiega  at  her  feet  watching 
the  dance  of  Faquita,  probably  had  participated  in  this  act  of 
treachery!  From  what  a  fearful  life  had  not  Zufiega  and 
Faquita  released  her !  Where  was  Faquita?  Had  she  reaped 
the  benefit  of  the  reward? 

She  went  up  to  the  room  in  which  she  had  slept  through 
her  girlhood.  Not  a  thing  had  been  changed  in  it.  Tia  Juana 
had  seen  that  even  the  candle  was  burning  before  the  little 
crucifix. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  291 

"  How  long  ag-o  it  seems  since  I  slept  here  last !"  she  sighed, 
touching  the  little  white  bed  reverently. 

She  turned  half-guiltily  as  she  heard  her  father's  voice 
behind  her.  He  had  followed  her  up  in  order  to  secure  an 
instant  alone  with  her,  as  a  mother  wistfully  seeks  to  look 
into  the  face  of  her  daughter  who  has  gone  out  from  the  home 
nest.  Raquel  wondered  if  he  would  be  able  to  peer  beneath 
the  surface  which  she  endeavored  to  present  to  him. 

He  put  his  arms  around  hec  and  drew  her  hungrily  against 
him. 

"  I  have  missed  you  dreadfully,  Raquel,"  he  whispered  with 
tears  in  his  eyes.  "  When  you  had  gone,  I  found  that  you 
were  all  that  made  the  plantation  a  home  to  me.  Time  and 
again,  I  have  been  tempted  to  write  and  beg  you  to  shorten 
your  stay  in  Havana,  but  I  conquered  my  selfishness.  Now 
that  you  really  are  here,  however,  I  may  as  well  tell  you." 

"I  longed  to  hear  just  such  words,"  Raquel  said  against 
his  cheek. 

"  Tell  me.  are  you  happy?"  queried  he  troubledly.  "  There 
is  something  in  your  face  that — was  not  there  when  you  went 
away." 

"  I  suppose — I  have  left — girlhood  behind  me,  here  in  this 
dear  room,"  she  answered  evasively.  "One  must  change;  I 
have  seen  something  of  the  world," 

"It  is  not  that,"  Palgrave  shook  his  head  with  conviction, 
"  There  is  an  expression  of — indifference, — a  sort  of  hopeless- 
ness in  your  eyes." 

"  Ah  no,  no!  You  do  not  read  aright!"  cried  Raquel.  "  I 
tremble  with  anxiety  concerning  this  venture  of  our  patriots. 
You  know  how  I  yearn  to  do  something  myself.  Oh,  will  you 
keep  a  secret?  I  have  not  told  M.  Theuriet,  but  I  would  like 
you  to  know." 

"  What  is  it?"  questioned  her  father,  visibly  worried. 
"  Have  you  been  less  wise  that  I  advised  you  to  be?" 

"  Possibly,"  admitted  Raquel,  "  but  it  is  not  that.  Zuiiega 
has  come  back  to  fight!     I  told  you  that  he  would." 

"  How  heard  you  so?" 

"  In  Havana." 

"  How  comes  it  to  be  known  there?  Spain  will  be  making 
him  a  prisoner." 

"There  art;  many  Ihings  known  in  Havana  of  which  Si)ain 


292  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA, 

is  not  cognizant."  she  replied  meaningly.  "I  am  proud  of 
you.  papa!  You  have  laughed  at  my  rage  against  Spain, 
yet  the  same  righteous  indignation  is  in  your  English  breast. 
Tell  those  who  come  to-night  that  you  wish  them  success  in 
their  noble  effort  to  give  the  island  freedom.  If  Spain  con- 
fiscates what  we  have,  we  can  go  and  fight  against  her.  That 
would  be  glorious!  I  could  fight  as  well  as  these  Spanish 
boys  who  are  sent  over  here  to  face  a  desperate  nation.  Poor 
lads!  It  has  been  sad  to  see  them  land;  for  every  Cuban 
knows  that  they  will  return  never  to  Spain.  Fever  will  do 
the  work  that  Cuban  rifles  leave  undone." 

"  You  are  more  of  an  insurrectionist  than  ever,"  smiled  her 
father.  "  It  is  a  wonder  that  you  did  not  get  both  M.  Theu- 
riet  and  me  into  hot  water  while  you  were  in  the  capital!" 

And  Raquel  refrained  from  confessing  how  nearly  she  had 
accomplished  the  very  thing  he  feared. 

Gilbert  Palgrave,  cautious  ever,  made  preparations  for 
receiving  his  expected  nocturnal  callers.  He  called  his  large 
force  of  men  together  and  instructed  them  to  supply  them- 
selves with  whatever  arms  the  plantation  afforded;  these,  he 
knew,  were  few  and  old;  but  each  man  possessed  a  machete 
or  cane-knife,  formidable  weapon  enough  in  the  strong  hand 
that  knew  how  to  wield  it.  One  sweeping  stroke  of  this  keen 
blade  would  be  more  than  sufficient  to  cut  a  man's  head  clean 
from  his  shoulders.  That  the  insurgents  themselves  were 
likely  to  be  armed  with  these  same  instruments  of  Cuban 
warfare  he  was  aware;  shut  off  from  the  markets  of  the 
world,  they  had  no  recourse  save  to  dig  up  the  arms  which 
had  been  buried  since  the  last  war,  or  to  employ  the  imple- 
ments that  gained  them  their  livelihood. 

M.  Theuriet,  not  too  confident  of  his  neighbor's  ability  to 
deal  with  characters  supposed  to  be  so  desperate,  sent  a  mes- 
senger commanding  all  of  the  available  men  on  the  coffee 
estate  to  come  to  Palgrave's  aid. 

The  astonishment  which  the  servants  of  La  Buena  Espe- 
ranza  experienced  at  learning  of  their  master's  unexpected  re- 
turn was  lost  in  the  more  exciting  news  of  the  near  approach 
of  the  insurgents. 

When  they  were  all  assembled  and  were  being  put  through 
a  brief  training,  M.  Theuriet  said  suddenly  to  the  sugar 
planter : 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  293 

"Where  ees  Pepillo,  ze  mayoral?" 

"  He  left  suddenly  at  the  first  suggestion  of  war,"  replied 
Palgrave.  "  And  to  tell  the  truth,  I  was  not  sorry.  I  always 
was  suspicious  of  that  fellow.  He  was  a  Spaniard.  I  am 
convinced  that  he  was  a  spy  of  the  government  sent  here  to 
determine  if  I  was  taxed  to  the  fullest  extent  possible.  My 
failure  to  render  the  full  tribute  detnanded  by  the  officials  has 
placed  me  under  suspicion,  no  doubt.  You  may  be  sure  that 
he  kept  account  of  every  pound  of  sugar  raised  on  this  plan- 
tation. It  is  a  villainous  espionage  that  Spain  maintains 
over  her  subjects.  I,  for  one,  will  be  glad  to  see  it  over,  and 
I  do  not  mind  contributing  toward  that  end." 

"  I  would  rejoice  as  loudly  as  any  eef  Spanish  taxes  could 
be  lifted,  or,  what  would  be  bettair,  eef  ze  Spaniards  could  be 
driven  out  ov  ze  island;  but  zat  will  nevair  be  done,  so  I 
remain  on  ze  safe  side." 

"  I  am  not  certain  which  will  be  the  safe  side  this  time," 
returned  the  sugar  planter.  "  Isn't  there  some  old  adage  to  the 
effect  that  it  is  not  well  to  have  all  of  your  eggs  in  one  basket?" 

With  the  approach  of  darkness,  the  blacks  were  stationed 
all  over  the  plantation  with  orders  to  resist  any  attempt  to 
damage  the  mill  or  the  crop.  The  air  was  full  of  suppressed 
excitement. 

The  house  was  secured  against  a  possible  attack.  The 
iron-barred  windows  were  fastened  and  guarded  by  men  with 
machetes.  Raquel,  her  father,  and  M.  Theuriet  remained  in 
the  sala,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  delegation.  Palgrave 
was  nervous  and  smoked  two  cigars  to  Theuriet's  one.  He 
knew  in  what  danger  he  stood.  The  presence  of  the  blacks 
at  the  various  points  of  vantage  reminded  him  of  that  fact  and 
he  could  not  remain  seated.  With  hands  in  his  pockets,  he 
paced  the  floor  hour  after  hour.  Raquel's  nerves  also  were 
strained  to  a  high  pitch,  but  she  compelled  herself  to  sit  mo- 
tionless. She  had  learned  much  self-control  in  the  few 
months  of  her  married  life. 

It  was  near  midnight  when,  on  the  stillness  of  the  air,  the 
sound  of  horses'  feet  was  borne  to  the  ears  of  the  watchers. 
Nearer,  nearer,  the  tread  came.  Raquel  shivered  with  ap- 
prehension. A  terrible  dread,  that  had  not  been  hers  before, 
paralyzed  her.  She  gazed  at  her  father  in  si^eechless  anxiety. 
Noticing  the  look,  he  came  and  touched  her  hair  with  his  lips. 


2  94  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Thank  God  that  you  have  some  one  to  care  for  you — if 
anything  happens  to  me,"  he  whispered. 

Raquel  sprung  up  then  and  wound  her  arms  around  him 
passionately. 

"  Do  you  think — that — anything  may  happen?"  she  cried. 
"  You  shall  not  go  out!     Let  me  go!     I  will  tell  them " 

"  Hush !  They  are  knocttng,"  he  said,  throwing  up  his  head. 
"  There  is  a  God !     He  is  with  men  in  their  hour  of  trouble !" 

He  went  swiftly  to  the  entrance  and  stepped  out  among 
the  circle  of  men  who  stood  there.  Despite  his  express 
orders,  Raquel  followed  him,  taking  the  chains  of  the  door 
from  the  unwilling  hands  of  the  man  who  was  on  guard.  She 
heard  the  leader  say  in  distinct  tones : 

"  We  come  for  the  fifteen  thousand  which  you  are  to  con- 
tribute toward  the  liberation  of  Cuba.  We  know  where  your 
sympathies  lie.     We  demand  this  expression  of  them." 

"Where  have  I  heard  that  voice  before?"  Raquel  ques- 
tioned puzzledly  of  herself.  "  It  sounds  almost  as  familiar  as 
my  own;  yet  I  can  not  tell  who  is  its  possessor." 

"  It  is  true  that  my  sympathies  are  with  Cuba;  whose  are 
not?"  Gilbert  Palgrave  said  in  reply,  "  but  owing  to  Spain's 
exorbitant  taxes  I  am  not  in  a  position  to  furnish  you  with  the 
gold  that  you  demand;  but  I  am  willing  to  promise  that  I 
will  make  every  effort  to  borrow  it,  and,  if  I  am  successful,  it 
shall  be  turned  over  to  you.  I  know  that  I  and  my  brother 
planters  on  the  island  are  the  ones  who  most  will  profit  by 
this  revolution  if  it  wins  the  day.  It  is  not  fair  that  we  sup- 
port you  not,  yet  you  are  perfectly  aware  of  how  Spain  holds 
us.  You  know  that  at  the  first  suggestion  that  we  are  favor- 
able to  the  enterprise  in  which  you  are  engaged,  the  govern- 
nment  will  take  every  possession  from  lis  and  give  us  in 
return  imprisonment  or  banishment.  Therefore  I  ask  you 
to  be  as  generous  as  you  can  afford  to  be  and  permit  me  time 
enough  to  raise  this  sum  without  incurring  suspicion  from 
Spanish  officials.  If  you  will  return  a  month  from  now,  I  will 
have  it  for  you." 

"  That  will  not  do,  we  must  have  it  now, "  replied  the  leader. 

"  What  further  proof  do  we  need?"  cried  a  voice  from  the 
circle.  "Has  he  not  told  us  what  he  is?  Are  not  Pepillo's 
words  revealed  to  be  true?  He  is  a  sympathizer  with  the 
revolutionists.     Seize  him." 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  =95 

"  Pepillo?"  thundered  Pal  grave.  "  Is  that  dog  here?  Ah. 
I  understand  this  now!  It  is  a  plot  to  entrap  ine  into  making 
known  my  true  sentiments.  That  devil  of  a  Spaniard  has  be- 
trayed me  after  being  in  my  employ.  I  know  not  what  he  has 
heard  me  speak,  but  this  I  say  to  you,  whoever  you  are:  I 
now  would  put  every  dollar  I  possess  into  the  hands  of  the 
men  who  are  determined  to  teach  Spain  that  her  barbarisms 
have  no  place  in  the  twentieth  century.  For  nearly  four 
hundred  years  Spanish  cruelty  has  made  this  place  a  robbers' 
nest.  Not  content  with  deceiving  the  peaceful  Caribs,  she 
has  deceived  her  own  children.  She  has  crushed  and  killed 
them  !  But  their  blood  speaks  again  with  a  voice  that  Spain 
is  destined  to  hear  from  the  lips  of  the  men  of  to-day.  Seize 
me  if  you  like.  I  am  for  Cuba  and  liberty!  The  flag  of  my 
country  will  protect  me!  I  am  an  Englishman,  and,  if  need 
be,  I  can  die  for  the  freedom  of  this  land  which  I  have  made 
my  home." 

Raquel  had  darted  without  a  cry  from  the  shadow  of  the 
portal.  She  stood  by  his  side.  Her  face  was  white.  Her 
eyes  were  like  stars. 

"  If  you  take  him,  you  take  me !"  she  said  in  ringing  tones. 
"  I  am  a  Cuban  and  I  defy  the  Spanish  tyrant.  You  may  kill 
me,  but  the  patriotism  that  burns  in  my  breast  burns  in  that 
of  every  Cuban.  You  can  never  kill  or  imprison  us  all.  Ever 
will  there  be  a  soul  like  Marti's  left  to  lead  us  on  to  liberty." 

"  Seize  him  !"  ordered  the  leader.  "  Leave  the  girl.  There 
are  other  ways  of  dealing  with  her." 

"  My  God!"  cried  the  father.  "  Raquel,  why  have  you  ex- 
posed yourself!" 

Raquel  had  given  a  cry  that  summoned  every  black  within 
reach.  The  alarm  was  spread  by  two  hundred  throats.  As 
Palgrave  was  made  prisoner,  an  entire  regiment  of  soldiers 
seemed  to  rise  up  from  the  shadows  where  they  had  lain  in 
hiding.  They  came  to  the  help  of  those  who  bound  the  strug- 
gling man. 

But  they  found  themselves  surrounded  by  a  mass  of  des- 
perate, fighting  blacks,  at  whose  head  was  M.  Theuriet,  deter- 
mined to  rescue  his  neighbor  even  if  the  attempt  landed  him 
beside  Palgrave  amid  the  indescribable  horrors  of  a  Spanish 
prison. 

There  ensued  a  battle  which  for  fierceness  and  desperation 


296  A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA. 

had,  as  yet,  had  no  parallel  during  the  experience  of  the  sol- 
diers, who  defended  themselves  from  the  furious  strokes  of  the 
frantic  blacks  urged  onward  by  their  love  for  their  master  and 
by  the  voice  of  Raquel.  Mauser  rifles  were  of  no  avail  in  a 
hand-to-hand  scrimmage  with  crazed  men  who  fought  like 
demons  to  preserve  their  master  from  the  fate  that  threatened 
him.  Unknown  to  any  of  them,  he  had  been  borne  away  in 
the  thick  of  the  struggle,  and  was  now  being  taken  rapidly 
from  the  scene  by  mounted  men. 

Little  by  little,  those  who  were  able  fought  their  path 
through  the  army  of  cane-workers  to  where  their  horses  were 
standing.  Swinging  themselves  into  their  saddles,  they  re- 
treated from  the  machetes  of  the  combined  forces  of  both 
plantations. 

There  in  the  darkness,  Raquel  stood  in  the  midst  of  loss 
and  bloodshed.  The  groans  of  the  wounded  filled  the  air. 
She  was  chilled  through  and  through  with  horror.  A  scream 
of  terror  rose  from  her  heart,  but  it  could  not  pass  her  stiff  lips. 

She  feared  that  her  father  had  been  killed.  Were  he  able 
to  speak,  she  knew  that  he  would  try  to  silence  her  fears  by  a 
word  that  would  tell  her  of  his  whereabouts. 

The  frightened  women,  headed  by  Tia  Juana,  obeyed  her 
order  for  candles.  Soon,  lights  went  flitting  about  over  the 
bodies  that  lay  outstretched  before  the  entrance. 

Breathlessly,  Raquel  bent  over  the  men,  fearful  of  what 
she  might  see.  No  thought  entered  her  mind  as  yet  concern- 
ing the  fate  of  her  husband.  She  had  forgotten  his  existence. 
Everything  was  swallowed  up  in  her  absorbing  fear  for  her 
father. 

With  gladness  she  noted  that,  thus  far,  those  over  whom 
she  flashed  her  light  wore  the  uniform  of  Spanish  soldiers. 
Not  a  wounded  black  was  to  be  seen.  If  any  were  dead,  they 
had  been  borne  to  the  quarters. 

One  soldier  groaned  with  agony  as  she  passed  him.  She 
halted  an  instant  with  the  pity  of  woman. 

"  I  will  have  your  wounds  attended  to,"  she  said.  "  I  am 
seeking  my  father." 

"They  have  taken  him  away,"  the  man  told  her,  with  an- 
other moan  of  pain  that  he  could  not  repress.  "  He  is  a  pris- 
oner of  Spain." 

The  candle  dropped  from  Raquel 's  hands.     She  stood  as  if 


A    DAOi7IITEK    Of   CUBA.  297 

turned  into  stone.  Nothing  so  merciful  as  unconsciousness 
came  to  her.  Before  her  mental  vision  passed  in  quick  review 
all  of  the  hideous  cruelties  which  she  ever  had  heard  of  being 
practised  by  the  Spaniards. 

Tia  Juana.  with  a  cry  of  alarm,  darted  toward  her  and  ex- 
tinguished the  flame  which  had  caught  her  gown  from  the 
fallen  candle.  In  doing  this,  the  woman  made  the  discovery 
that  the  man  beside  whom  Raquel  thus  stood  frozen  with 
fear  was  M.  Theuriet. 

Reaching  up,  she  took  Raquel  by  the  arm  and  attracted 
her  attention. 

"  M.  Theuriet  is  wounded,  senorita  viia"  she  said  trem- 
blingly.    "  iMira .'     He  moves  not.     He  hears  not." 

Recalled  to  the  things  about  her,  Raquel  dropped  to  her 
knees,  remorseful  that  she  had  not  thought  of  him  sooner. 
She  placed  her  fingers  on  his  heart.     It  seemed  to  beat  faintly. 

"  Call  some  one,"  she  cried  anxiously.  "  We  must  get  him 
into  the  house!" 

Awed  by  this  terrible  thing  which  had  befallen  the  planta- 
tion, the  men  bore  him  into  the  sala  carefully. 

In  the  employment  furnished  by  the  effort  to  revive  him 
to  consciousness,  Raquel,  for  a  moment,  lost  sight  of  her 
greater  trouble.  When  he  opened  his  eyes,  after  she  seem- 
ingly had  exhausted  everj'  remedy  known  to  Tia  Juana, 
Raquel  felt  a  wave  of  thankfulness  sweep  through  her  be- 
numbed mind.     She  knelt  beside  him,  stroking  his  hands. 

"  Ah,  thank  God !"  she  cried  with  relief. 

Theuriet  endeavored  to  raise  his  head.  He  looked  about 
him  in  a  dazed  way ;  then,  when  recollection  became  his,  he 
asked  quickly: 

"  Palgrave, — where  ees  he?" 

"  They  have  taken  him  away !"  moaned  Raquel.  "  He  is  a 
prisoner  of  Spain.     You  and  I  must  rescue  him,  monsieur," 

The  Frenchman  fell  back  with  a  groan  of  despair. 

"MonDieu!  I  zink  I  am  dying,"  he  whispered.  "What 
will  you  do?" 

"I  will  revenge  both  of  you!"  she  cried,  trying  to  gather 
him  up  in  her  strdng  young  arms.  "  You  are  not  dying !  You 
have  not  been  hurt  seriously." 

"  I  hav'  received  a  sword-thrust  from  zat  leader,"  mur- 
mured he  feebly,  putting  his  hand  to  his  side.     "  I  die— now !" 


298  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

Frantically  Raquel  tore  his  clothing  from  the  spot  indi- 
cated. 

It  was  true.  How  deep  or  how  dangerous  the  wound  was, 
she  could  not  determine.  She  was  surrounded  by  blacks 
more  ignorant  than  herself.  She  watched  the  grayness  of 
death  creeping  over  his  face  and  did  not  know  what  she  looked 
upon.  Even  while  she  bent  above  him  with  wide,  terror-filled 
eyes,  there  was  a  horrible  struggle  in  his  throat.  Then  he 
lay  very  still. 

The  minutes  passed.  She  drew  him  closer  in  her  arms. 
She  smoothed  the  gray  hair  back  from  his  forehead.  Her  fin- 
gers were  wet  with  the  dampness  which  stood  on  his  brow. 
She  observed  his  features  anxiously.  She  waited  for  some 
further  sign  of  recognition. 

Suddenly  Tia  Juana  gave  a  shriek  and  endeavored  to  take 
him  from  her, 

"  See  you  not  that  he  is  dead,  sehorita  nna  ?" 

With  a  tightening  at  her  heart,  Raquel  put  her  face  down 
to  his. 

"He  has  fainted  again — with  pain,"' she  whispered,  look- 
ing up  at  Tia  Juana  with  startled  countenance  when  she  found 
that  no  breath  came  from  his  lips. 

"He  is  dead!  Dies  pity  us!"  cried  the  woman.  "  He  is 
dead  !" 

Raquel  would  not  permit  him  to  be  taken  from  her. 

She  held  him  closer  and  glanced  around  the  sala  with  a 
gaze  that  seemed  to  see  nothing.  The  few  candles  scattered 
about  afforded  little  light  to  dissipate  the  awful  gloom  of  the 
waning  darkness.  The  anxious  eyes  of  the  terrified  servants 
who  watched  her  did  not  read  that  she  was  taking  a  farewell 
of  all  she  looked  upon. 

"  Summon  all  that  are  of  left  of  you,"  she  said. 

"  Only  Diego  and  Pedro  are  injured,  seiiorita,"  old  Pablo 
told  her.  "  The  Spaniards  shot  themselves,  not  us.  Our 
machetes  were  powerful." 

"  They  will  need  to  be  as  powerful  in  the  future,"  she  said 
meaningly.     "  Call  every  member  of  the  plantation  here." 

When  they  were  assembled,  awe-stricken  and  tearful,  she 
looked  up  into  their  dark,  faithful  faces  from  that  quiet  one  in 
her  arms. 

"  I  have  no  protector  now  but  you,"  she  said,  hushing  their 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  299 

cries  of  woe  authoritatively.     "  You  have  no  masters  now — 
but  me.     Are  you  prepared  to  obey  me?" 

"  Si,  SI,  sefiorita,"  came  from  the  dusky  throats  of  her 
father's  men,  to  whom,  despite  her  marriage,  she  always 
would  be  the  little  sefiorita. 

"Si,  si,  sfiiora,"  the  voices  of  those  from  the  cofifee  estate 
replied. 

"  Will  you  follow  me  wherever  I  may  lead  you.^"  she 
demanded. 

"  As  long  as  we  have  life !" 

"  Spain's  officials  have  robbed  me  of  all  that  I  hold  dear," 
she  said  bitterly.  "  I  will  revenge  the  capture  of  my  father, 
the  death  of  my  husband!  I  am  Spain's  avowed  enemy!  It 
will  not  be  safe  for  me  to  remain  here.  I  shall  go  to  the 
mountains.  I  am  a  woman,  but  I  can  lead  you  against  those 
whom  Spain  has  sent  over  here  to  conquer  us.  As  long  as 
strength  is  mine,  I  will  fight  the  power  that  has  brought  such 
desolation  to  my  home,  such  ruin  to  our  land.  Have  I  the 
support  of  those  who  have  lost  their  masters  and  their  homes 
because  of  Spanish  treachery?" 

"  We  are  yours,  seiiorita.     Our  machetes  are  for  Cuba!" 

"  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost."  She  seemed  to  have  come 
into  her  own.  Her  voice  was  one  of  command.  She  was 
bom  to  lead  and  she  knew  it  at  that  moment.  "  The  Span- 
iards will  come  back  here  after  their  dead.  Wc  must  be 
away.  This  estate  will  become  Spain's.  What  will  be  the 
fate  of  La  Buena  Esperanza  I  know  not.  We  will  do  what 
we  can  for  these  wounded.  Ay,  it  is  the  mercy  of  Jesu!  We 
cannot  leave  them  to  suffer.  Then  to  the  forest!  Spain  has 
another  band  of  insurgents  now  to  harass  her  troops  and  lead 
them  into  ambush !  We  will  do  what  we  can  to  break  Cuba's 
chains  and  throw  open  the  doors  of  the  prisons.  And  if  death 
becomes  ours  in  the  struggle,  we  will  welcome  it— for  the  sake 
of  our  Cuba!" 

The  Spanish  soldier  to  whom  she  had  promised  care  lifted 
his  head. 

"  Fira  Cuba!  Cuba  libre!"  he  said  under  his  breath. 
"  Spain  sends  us  over  here  to  fight  such  a  people  as  this !  God 
give  them  freedom!" 


300  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

Raquel  remained  beside  the  body  of  M.  Theuriet  while 
the  women  unwillingly  attended  to  the  wounds  of  those  of  the 
Spaniards  who  were  not  yet  dead.  With  the  break  of  day,  the 
scene  where  the  conflict  had  been  presented  an  aspect  that 
made  the  blacks  full  of  shuddering  terror. 

Ten  soldiers  already  were  dead  and  three  more  slipped 
from  life  before  the  sun  was  an  hour  high.  The  machetes 
had  done  fatal  work. 

The  soldier  who  had  whispered  "  Viva  Cuba  ! "  requested 
that  he  might  speak  with  Raquel.  Tia  Juana  refused  to  call 
her.  He  caught  the  woman  by  the  hand  and  drew  her  nearer 
to  him. 

"  Call  her !"  he  begged.  "  I  can  be  of  help  to  her.  I  heard 
what  she  told  you.  She  intends  to  leave  here.  She  must  go 
quickly.     Call  her!" 

Impressed  by  his  earnestness,  Tia  Juana  obeyed. 

Raquel  came.  Her  face  was  set  and  stern.  She  hated  the 
sight  of  the  Spanish  uniform.  The  soldier  lost  no  time  in 
convincing  her  of  his  desire  to  aid  her. 

"  Take  the  arms  and  ammunition  from  me  and  my  com- 
panions," he  told  her.  "  I  understand  where  you  mean  to  go. 
It  is  wise.  Pepillo  Astucera  will  return  here.  You  wish  to 
do  something  for  your  island.  I  will  tell  you  what  her  brave 
men  will  need.  A  hospital!  You  are  prepared  to  give  it 
them.  Take  your  provisions,  ^^our  remedies,  your  beds.  Es- 
tablish a  place  in  the  mountains  where  your  wounded  can  be 
cared  for.  Cubans  will  bless  you.  If  you  will  take  me  with 
you,  I  will  lead  your  blacks  on  to  whatever  you  desire.  Ay, 
I  am  a  Spaniard !  But — God  knows  I  am  ashamed  to  be  one ! 
There  are  many  of  us  who  would  join  the  insurgents  if  we 
dared.  We  knew  not  what  we  came  to  fight  when  Spain  sent 
us  over." 

"  I  could  trust  no  Spaniard !"  Raquel  returned  slowly.  His 
words  showed  her  the  necessity  for  action,  but  she  could  not 
see  which  way  to  turn.  She  knew  beyond  all  hope  of  change 
that  M.  Theuriet  was  dead,  yet  she  could  not  endure  the 
thought  of  having  him  buried.     To  go  and  leave  him  was  a 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CCBA.  301 

thing  impossible.  To  take  him  with  them  seemed  as  impos- 
sible.    The  soldier  appeared  to  comprehend  her  trouble, 

"  Perhaps  you  are  right,"  he  sighed.  "  Since  I  came  I 
have  learned  of  things  which  Cuba  has  endured  that  Spain 
herself  does  not  know,  I  think — the  people  of  Spain,  I  mean. 
1  did  not  know  the  nature  of  the  work  which  we  were  to  do 
here  at  your  home.  I  was  given  to  understand  that  your 
father  was  a  dangerous  conspirator  against  the  government. 
We  were  ordered  to  accompany  his  accusers  and  enforce 
Spain's  law.  Let  me  atone  what  I  can.  Help  me  to  join  the 
cause  for  which  you,  a  woman,  are  ready  to  fight.  Leave 
your  dead  here  until  all  else  is  safe ;  then,  if  there  is  time, 
return  for  them." 

He  was  little  more  than  a  boy.  His  face  was  honest.  His 
eyes,  full  of  pain,  looked  into  hers  earnestly. 

"  I  may  be  dead  by  that  time,"  he  added.  "  I  suffer,  but  I 
do  not  know  how  badly  I  am  hurt." 

Raquel  examined  his  wound  with  inexperienced  ej'es. 

"  I  know  not  either,"  she  told  him  troubledly. 

"  Give  no  thought  to  me,"  he  urged  her.  "  Summon  your 
people.  Take  your  animals  and  cart  into  the  forest — all  that 
you  can  carry." 

"  You  are  brave,"  Raquel  said.     "  I  will  be  as  brave." 

Even  in  less  time  than  she  had  hoped  there  was  little  left 
within  the  walls  to  betoken  a  habitation.  The  blacks  of  both 
plantations  worked  as  they  never  had  in  the  busiest  season. 
The  carts,  built  for  loading  the  cane  to  be  brought  to  the  mill, 
now  served  to  convey  the  contents  of  the  hacienda  through 
the  protected  roads  of  the  cane-fields  to  the  river,  which  was 
easily  forded  though  the  rains  had  swollen  it.  From  this 
point  on  there  was  more  caution  to  be  observed,  but  the 
transfer  of  the  possessions  of  La  Sacra  Sonrisa  went  on  un- 
interruptedly throughout  the  day. 

Raquel  found  herself  confronted  by  a  fresh  problem.  What 
was  she  to  do  with  the  women  of  both  plantations?  They 
could  not  fight.  It  was  true  that  some  of  them  could  act  in 
the  capacity  of  nurses,  but  there  were  too  many  to  be  thus 
employed  or  fed.  She  knew  something  of  the  difficulties  of 
camp-life  from  her  short  experience  in  that  of  Alarcon.  She 
finally  decided  to  leave  all  that  would  remain  at  La  Buena 
Esperanza  and  place,  as  guard  and  protection  over  them,  one- 


302  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

third  of  M.  Theuriet's  own  men.  It  soon  would  be  time  for 
the  gathering  of  the  coffee  crop.  It  might  be  that  Spain 
would  permit  that  to  be  done.  M.  Theuriet  was  believed  to 
have  been  most  loyal  to  Spain.  His  estate  might  not  be  mo- 
lested unless  by  the  revolutionists. 

To  her  consternation,  she  learned  that  none  of  them  was 
willing  to  stay.  They  not  only  were  afraid  of  Spain's  sol- 
diers, but  they  desired  to  accompany  her  on  whatever  expe- 
dition she  chose  to  send  them.  After  laying  the  case  before 
them,  however,  she  won  the  consent  of  thirty  men,  who  agreed 
to  remain  with  the  women  for  two  months  at  La  Buena  Espe- 
ranza  and  carry  on  the  work  as  if  their  master  still  were  in 
Havana,  on  the  condition  that,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  their 
places  should  be  taken  by  some  of  those  who  were  to  follow 
her. 

The  destination  which  Raquel  had  in  her  mind  was  the 
cave  which  Zunega  had  revealed  to  her  and  Faquita.  She 
remembered  its  location  and  believed  that  her  men  could  find 
the  way  to  it. 

The  children,  mothers,  and  old  women  were  removed  to 
La  Buena  Esperanza.  The  dead  Spanish  soldiers  had  been 
buried.  The  only  one  that  was  alive  was  the  boy,  who  watched 
all  these  things  being  accomplished. 

"  Are  you  going  to  leave  me  here,  seiiora?"  he  asked  wist- 
fully.    "  I  will  prove  no  traitor  to  Cuba." 

"We  will  take  you  with  us,"  said  Raquel.  "They  who 
suffer  much  can  forgive  much.  You  have  tried  to  help  me. 
I  am  grateful." 

When  the  shadows  were  beginning  to  cast  themselves  far, 
M.  Theuriet  was  placed  in  the  rude  coffin  which  Pablo  had 
hastily  constructed.  The  utter  absence  of  a  burial  service 
made  the  scene  no  less  impressive. 

With  her  bowed  head  touched  by  the  sunlight  that  sifted 
through  the  orange  trees,  Raquel  stood  looking  down  into  the 
grave.  She  could  shed  no  tears.  She  believed  that  never 
again  would  such  relief  ease  the  burning  beneath  her  heavy 
lids.  With  what  strange  swiftness  had  come  the  end  of  her 
married  life  and  her  entrance  into  the  arena  where  Cuba  was 
fighting  for  her  liberty  with  such  desperation  as  the  goaded 
bull  exhibits  beneath  the  tortures  of  the  toreador! 

"  You  have  given  your  life  to  Cuba,"  she  said  softly  as  the 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA  303 

earth  covered  him  from  sight.  "  It  shall  not  be  in  vain.  The 
island  will  gain  the  strong  hands  and  stout  hearts  of  those 
who  were  your  servants.  They  shall  swell  the  mighty  cry  of 
'  Cul'd  librc  ! 

The  wounded  Spaniard  was  carried  swung  in  a  blanket 
between  two  horses. 

Raquel  led  the  way  with  M.  Theuriet's  Diego  by  her  side. 
They  pushed  a  short  distance  into  the  forest;  then  waited  for 
the  coming  of  another  day,  when  they  skirted  the  shoulder  of 
the  mountain  over  which  Zufiega  had  led  her.  In  spite  of  her 
belief  that  she  could  go  directly  to  the  spot,  four  long,  weari- 
some days  elapsed  before  they  came  to  the  river  she  sought. 
She  had  forgotten  that  Zunega  had  said  it  was  a  subterranean 
stream,  and  much  of  that  time  they  had  crossed  and  re- 
crossed  where  it  was  tunnelling  its  way  unseen  hundreds  of 
feet  beneath  their  tread. 

Descending  to  where  it  rushed  as  fiercely  as  ever  over  its 
stony  bed,  the  company  took  up  its  march  to  the  destined 
cave.  The  finding  of  this  Raquel  had  anticipated  would  be 
difficult,  but,  to  her  surprise,  they  had  not  gone  far  when  they 
observed  signs  that  others  had  been  there  recently.  The 
dense  tangle  which  she  remembered,  had  been  cut  away. 
Following  the  cleared  path  with  more  speed,  they  reached  a 
spot  where  she  paused  abruptly.  She  had  forgotten  how  the 
place  looked,  yet,  when  she  came  to  the  spot  where  Zuiiega 
had  left  the  river,  she  recognized  it  instantly. 

Apprehension  seized  her.  She  had  not  once  thought  of 
the  possibility  that  the  cave  might  have  been  taken  possession 
of  already.  The  indisputable  evidence  about  her  proved  that 
such  must  be  the  case.  As  far  as  she  could  peer  up  the 
stream,  the  mass  of  green  growth  had  been  cut  away  suffi- 
ciently to  allow  easy  passage. 

"  This  is  the  cave,"  she  said  to  Diego,  who  still  was  her 
body-guard,  "  but  some  one  has  been  before  us.  The  Span- 
iards have  discovered  it,  or  our  patriots  are  using  it.  Keep 
the  others  back  while  I  go  and  see." 

Diego  rushed  to  warn  the  long  cavalcade  which  was  fol- 
lowing in  the  path  Raquel  had  chosen.  There  were  not  lack- 
ing those  who  had  found  the  journey  an  anxious  one,  and  many 
had  been  the  unuttercd  questions  which  had  trembled  on  the 
lips  of  the  men.    But  they  were  accustomed  to  obey,  and  Raquel 


304  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUB  A. 

had  shown  them  that  she  expected  nothing  less.  The  soldier 
had  borne  the  tediousness  of  the  slow  forest  travelling  far  bet- 
ter than  any  of  them  had  expected.  His  wound,  a  machete 
cut,  had  yielded  to  the  magic  of  the  remedies  which  Tia  Juana 
had  applied  one  after  the  other,  and  the  inflammation  had  sub- 
sided considerably.  He  had  raved  over  the  beauties  of  this 
plant  world  through  which  they  cut  their  way,  and  he  had 
shivered  when  told  that  it  abounded  in  vines  the  touch  of 
which  was  poisonous  and  deadly  to  those  who,  like  himself, 
were  unacquainted  with  the  remedies  and  unaccustomed  to 
the  climate. 

Raquel  stole  cautiously  up  through  the  green  barricade 
which  nature  had  built  before  this  retreat.  The  huge  boul- 
der which  had  been  there  was  pushed  to  one  side,  but  the  veil 
of  vines  concealed  the  entrance  sufficiently.  Trembling  vio- 
lently, Raquel  thrust  her  fingers  through  the  leaves  and  peered 
in.  There  were  signs  of  recent  occupancy.  She  ventured  to 
creep  in  stealthily,  not  knowing  what  might  be  made  manifest 
by  exploration.  Back  among  the  shadows  she  stumbled  over 
a  collection  of  rifles  which  evidently  had  been  stored  here, 
together  with  what  looked  like  boxes  of  ammunition. 

She  did  not  really  grasp  the  nature  of  the  discovery  until 
Diego  had  made  his  way  to  her.  Crazy  with  excitement,  he 
ran  back  and  brought  as  many  of  the  others  as  could  follow 
his  fleet  feet. 

The  Spaniard,  hearing  the  commotion,  demanded  that  he 
should  be  carried  into  the  cave. 

"  These  are  concealed  by  the  insurgents!"  he  cried.  "  No 
Spanish  soldier  ever  would  penetrate  thus  far  into  a  Cuban 
forest.  He  is  not  obliged  to  hide  his  war  munitions.  Only 
you  Cubans  must  do  that!" 

The  supposed  ammunition  he  regarded  with  suspicion. 

"  They  may  contain  ammunition  and  they  may  hold 
dynam.ite,"  he  told  them.  "  Roloff  is  blowing  up  bridge  after 
bridge  with  the  deadly  stuff.  Where  he  gets  it,  where  he 
keeps  it  concealed,  we  Spaniards  have  not  been  able  to  find. 
This  may  be  one  of  the  hiding-places.  I  am  fearful  of  having 
the  boxes  opened !" 

"  But  what  good  are  the  guns  without  ammunition?"  de- 
manded Raquel. 

"  None,"  agreed  he.  "  but  I  can  tell  you  where  to  obtain 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  305 

ammunition.  Only  there  is  no  one  to  lead  your  men  to  it. 
They  could  capture  it  easily  now." 

"  I  can  lead  them  !"  Raquel  said  proudly. 

The  soldier  looked  at  her,  his  surprise  struggling  with 
unbelief. 

"  Dare  3'ou,  seiiora?"  he  asked  quickly.  "  It  will  be  peril- 
ous." 

"  Do  you  think  I  care  for  peril?"  demanded  she  scornfully. 
"  My  life  is  worth  only  what  it  can  win  for  Cuba.  I  shall 
count  that  every  blow  I  can  strike  at  Spain  is  that  much  to- 
ward the  freedom  of  my  father." 

The  Spaniard  hesitated. 

"You  may  deem  me  ignoble,"  he  said  finally.  "I  am 
going  to  betray  to  you  my  own  country.  I  can  fight  for  her 
no  more.  If  I  recover  the  use  of  my  arm,  I  shall  join  the 
Cuban  forces.  That  will  be  no  worse  than  the  action  of  those 
soldiers  in  Havana  who  continually  dispose  of  ammunition  to 
the  friends  of  the  insurgents.  Spain's  methods  drive  her  own 
soldiers  from  the  cause  they  are  brought  over  to  defend." 

"  It  is  only  a  noble  soul  that  is  courageous  enough  to  refuse 
to  support  an  unrighteous  power,"  answered  Raquel.  "  It  is 
only  a  cowardly  or  a  benighted  mind  that  will  war  against 
Cuba  when  her  deep  wrongs  are  understood :  cowardly,  be- 
cause afraid  of  Spanish  vengeance;  benighted,  because  not 
touched  by  the  advancing  spirit  of  civilization  which  demands 
the  recognition  of  liberty  and  brotherhood!" 

The  soldier's  eyes  filled  with  honest  admiration  as  he 
watched  her  slender,  graceful  figure  draw  itself  up  command- 
ingly. 

"  Your  soul  is  too  large  for  your  woman's  body,  seiiora," 
he  sighed.  "  It  is  no  wonder  that  we  fail  to  vanquish  a  nation 
with  such  hearts  as  yours!" 

"  Where  is  the  ammunition?"  questioned  Raquel  curiously. 

"  Lieutenant  Jaime  Arco,  with  fifty  soldiers,  is  detailed  to 
guard  a  rude  fort  of  logs  in  which  is  stored  fifteen  thousand 
rounds  of  ammunition,  seventy-five  Mauser  rifles  and  some 
camp  stores.  You  have  ninety  men  with  you,  have  you 
not?" 

Raquel  nodded  assent.     Her  face  was  alight  with  daring. 

"  If  they  fight  as  they  fought  the  other  night,  you  can  se- 
cure everything  that  the  hut  holds." 

20 


3o6  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

"  Without  guns?"  asked  Raquel,  finding  that  the  project 
was  rather  formidable  when  she  came  to  contemplate  it. 

"  Your  men  do  not  know  how  to  use  guns  yet,"  reminded 
the  soldier.  "  In  their  hands  the  machetes  are  twice  as 
fatal.  And  in  close  conflict  our  rifles  are  of  little  avail. 
They  carry  too  far." 

"  Tell  me  what  to  do,"  Raquel  requested  determinedly. 

"I  scarcely  know  where  the  place  is,"  replied  the  Span- 
iard, "  but  it  is  called  by  name  of  Yaez.  It  consists  only  of  a 
few  houses  and  a  dozen  huts.  The  ammunition  is  being  held 
there  for  our  men,  as  they  are  expected  to  move  backward 
through  the  country." 

"I  know  where  the  spot  is,"  Raquel  said  quickly,  "but  I 
do  not  know  how  to  reach  it  from  here." 

"  If  I  were  able,  I  would  lead  your  men  to  it,"  declared  the 
soldier,  "  but  I  fear  that  I  never  will  be  in  shape  to  do  much 
for  any  cause  again." 

"  Tia  Juana  has  healed  worse  wounds  than  that,  she  says," 
Raquel  encouraged  him.  "  You  yet  will  be  so  that  you  can 
follow  Gomez." 

"No;  I  will  fight  under  you,  seiiora,"  he  swore,  lifting  his 
uninjured  arm. 

"  I  and  my  men  may  be  Spain's  victims  by  that  time,"  she 
returned. 

When  the  weary  group  of  embryonic  patriots  had  disposed 
itself  to  its  satisfaction  in  and  about  the  cave,  the  women  pre- 
pared a  meal,  of  which  the  half-famished  men  partook  hun- 
grily. The  possibility  of  an  immediate  sortie  filled  them  with 
delight.  They  fondled  the  weapons  in  the  cave  and  obeyed 
the  instructions  of  the  weak  voice  of  the  soldier,  who  told 
them  how  to  bring  the  rifles  up  into  proper  position.  With  the 
possession  of  the  ammunition  for  which  they  were  willing  to 
go  under  Raquel's  orders,  they  fancied  that  they  would  be  in 
a  position  to  work  limitless  damage  to  the  men  of  Spain. 
They  were  so  amenable  that  the  soldier  was  delighted.  With 
them  to  hear,  he  told  Raquel  what  was  the  best  course  to  pur- 
sue. He  advised  that  the  onslaught  be  made  near  night,  when 
Arco  might  be  drinking,  as  was  his  wont. 

"  I  hate  myself  for  being  a  traitor,  but  I  find  that  I  am  a 
Cuban  at  heart  even  if  I  was  born  in  Spain.  I  will  be  tnie  to 
my  inclinations.     Kill  none,  if  you  can  help  it.     Make  them 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  307 

prisoners.  Bring  them  here.  If  you  capture  them  and  return 
them  to  Spain,  she  will  shoot  them  for  being  so  remiss  in  duty 
as  to  permit  themselves  to  be  captured.  Rather  than  return 
to  be  court-martialed,  they  will  join  the  Cuban  army.  You 
will  have  a  company  of  fighting  men,  senora." 

"  I  will  trust  no  Spaniard,"  she  said. 

"  Yet  you  trust  me,"  he  reminded  her. 

"  You  are  in  my  power,"  she  returned. 

Accustomed  as  she  had  been  all  of  her  life  to  care  and  lux- 
ury of  home,  Raquel  found  that  she  suffered  from  the  fatigue 
of  the  travelling  far  more  than  she  had  anticipated.  She  dis- 
guised the  fact  as  well  as  she  could,  and  went  among  her  men, 
encouraging  them  constantly  by  the  sight  of  her  sad,  deter- 
mined face.  The  truth  was  that  they  needed  little  encourage- 
ment. The  prospect  before  them  was  exactly  to  their  taste. 
They  had  all  of  the  desire  to  see  their  land  free,  added  to 
which  was  the  negro  desire  for  revenge  for  the  wrongs  which 
had  been  done  Raquel  and  their  masters. 

The  next  morning,  leaving  the  cave  to  be  guarded  by  the 
women  and  the  sick  Spaniard,  Raquel  and  the  ninety  blacks 
moved  down  the  path  which  had  been  cleared  through  the 
dense  foliage.  They  were  watched  out  of  sight  by  the  fearful 
Tia  Juana,  who  was  apprehensive  that  the  stalwart  band  never 
would  return  to  the  safety  of  this  mountain  stronghold. 

Raquel  may  have  had  the  same  thought,  but  she  did  not 
voice  it.     She  waved  her  hand  backward  with  the  cry : 

"  Viva  Cuba  !     Cuba  libre  !  " 

She  bore  the  gun  which  belonged  to  the  Spaniard.  Some 
of  the  blacks  carried  the  others  which  had  been  taken  from 
the  dead  soldiers. 

Where  this  river  trail  would  lead  them  she  had  no  idea. 
She  meant  to  follow  it  as  long  as  the  path  was  clear.  She 
reasoned  that  a  considerable  force  of  men  must  have  journeyed 
over  this  route,  for  there  were  signs  that  many  machetes  had 
been  employed  in  devastating  the  underbrush.  She  wondered 
when  they  would  come  back  again  for  their  hidden  stores. 
The  novelty  of  this  enterprise  she  had  in  mind,  the  certain 
danger  into  which  she  was  going,  combined  to  keep  her  from 
giving  way  to- the  grief  which  filled  her  heart  with  the  mem- 
ory uf  all  that  had  happene-d  sincu  she  had  left  Havana.  She 
thought  of  Pepita  dc  Urquiza  and  wondered  what  would  be 


3oS  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

that  person's  comment  on  this  action.  She  remembered  that 
these  were  the  paths  through  which  Faquita  even  now  might 
be  moving.  What  had  the  girl  done  after  the  death  of  Alar- 
con?  That  had  not  been  long  ago.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
knowledge  that  this  forest  was  no  longer  the  rendezvous  of 
the  brigands,  she  never  would  have  dared  to  penetrate  thus 
fearlessly  into  its  depths. 

The  manner  in  which  the  foliage  crossed  and  interlaced  at 
the  top  of  the  gorge  made  it  gloomy  for  those  who  crept  along 
on  the  verge  of  the  stream,  ignorant  of  whether  thej'  were 
going  deeper  into  the  mountain  fastnesses  or  coming  out  into 
the  light  of  day. 

Tirelessly  Raqiiel  led  them  on,  resolving  that  she  would 
not  let  the  unfortunate  fact  that  she  was  a  woman  keep  her 
from  achieving  all  that  she  had  dreamed  in  those  days  when 
she  had  swung  in  the  hammock  of  the  quiet  court. 

Night  overtook  them.  They,  slept  by  turns,  watching  over 
their  mistress  with  eager,  anxious  care.  Secretly  they  felt 
that  they  could  do  better  without  her,  but  they  dared  not  tell 
her  so.  They  were  fearful  of  what  might  happen  to  her  in  the 
attempt  to  capture  the  store  of  ammunition.  They  failed  to 
perceive  what  benefit  a  woman's  brain  would  be  to  them  in 
the  battle  that  lay  before  them.  They  meant  to  fight  desper- 
ately.    What  more  was  there  to  do? 

But  before  the  raid  on  the  Spaniards  was  completed,  they 
found  that  the  calm  judgment  of  the  girl  was  to  be  depended 
on  far  more  than  the  excited,  varying  opinions  of  ninety 
blacks. 

They  took  up  the  march  in  the  morning  and  were  rewarded 
four  hours  later  by  coming  out  into  the  broad  sunlight  of  a 
valley  through  which  the  river  ran  noiselessly,  gi-^ng  no  hint 
of  the  tumultuous  force  with  which  it  had  dashed  itself  along 
through  the  mountain  opening. 

Here  they  discovered  the  hut  of  a  inontero,  who  not  only 
made  them  welcome  and  provided  them  with  as  much  of  a 
breakfast  as  his  meagre  possessions  allowed,  but  presented 
Raquel  with  his  only  horse  when  he  learned  the  object  they 
had  in  view. 

"  It  is  for  Cuba,  se flora  mia"  he  replied  when  she  remon- 
strated.    "  It  is  all  I  have  to  give." 

Knowing   that   she   could  return   it  to   him  or  replace  it 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  309 

with  another,  she  accepted  it,  seeing  her  mistake  in  not  bring- 
ing those  from  the  camp.  The  spirit  within  her  had  been  so 
mighty  that  she  had  not  thought  but  what  her  body  would  be 
able  to  obey  all  demands  made  upon  it.  To  the  blacks  this 
constant  travelling  was  no  more  than  they  were  accustomed  to 
the  greater  portion  of  the  year.  To  her  feminine  frame  it 
was  fatiguing  beyond  measure. 

From  the  viontcro  they  derived  the  information  that  the 
tiny  hamlet  which  was  their  destination  lay  twelve  miles 
beyond.  The  road  to  it  led  through  the  manigua  or  thick 
imderbrush,  which  makes  so  excellent  an  ambush.  He  finally 
offered  to  guide  them  there,  and  left  his  half-clad  wife  and  not 
clad  children  weeping. 

Mounted,  Raquel  felt  even  more  hopeful  of  success  than 
she  had  when  creeping  along  the  riverside.  Her  body  be- 
came rested  and  promised  to  carry  out  the  plan  which  she 
was  formulating  in  her  mind.  Everything  seemed  favorable 
to  them.  There  was  no  moon  now.  It  would  be  a  dark  night. 
The  soldiers  would  anticipate  little  danger.  They  might  be 
off  their  guard.  When  two  miles  from  the  spot,  the  blacks 
took  to  the  manigua,  lest  they  might  be  seen.  She  rode  on 
alone,  but  she  could  hear  her  men  moving  through  the  heavy 
green  growth.  The  knowledge  of  their  nearness  was  not 
without  its  value  to  her  feminine  mind. 

On  the  verge  of  the  diminutive  town  she  halted,  intend- 
ing to  wait  for  darkness.  Diego  stole  nearer  the  collection  of 
dwelling*  and  came  bacH  with  the  information  that  only  five 
soldiers  appeared  to  be  guarding  the  fort,  the  remainder  of 
them  being  occupied  in  watching  a  cock-fight  in  the  court-yard 
of  the  posada. 

Ignorant  of  all  war  tactics,  she  divined  nevertheless  that 
this  was  the  moment  for  the  master-stroke,  and,  with  no  warn- 
ing, swept  in  upon  the  unsuspecting  village  with  a  swarm  of 
belligerent  blacks  at  the  heels  of  her  horse.  Before  the  sol- 
diers at  the  mud-banked  fort  knew  what  had  happened,  they 
were  prisoners  and  the  stores  they  had  l)ccn  guarding  were  in 
the  hands  of  this  wild-eyed  crowd  of  excited  negroes,  who 
obeyed  the  orders  given  by  a  pale-faced  girl. 

With  the  swiftness  of  those  who  know  that  they  yet  have 
much  work  to  do,  the  muscular  men  convtycd  every  |>ortinn 
of  the  ammunition  to  the  manigua.     They  secreted  there  the 


3IO  A    DAUGHTER    Of   CUBA. 

rifles  also,  relieving  the  bound  soldiers  of  their  arms  as  well. 
Not  a  shot  had  been  fired.  Not  an  alarm  had  been  given. 
The  five  soldiers  on  guard  had  been  playing  dominoes  at  the 
time  of  the  attack.  Leaving  four  others  beside  Diego  to 
guard  these,  Raquel  led  her  men  to  the  posada.  She  knew 
that  horses  and  carts  must  be  secured  to  carry  the  booty  to 
the  mountains.  This  could  not  be  done  until  all  of  the  sol- 
diers were  captured.  The  success  at  the  fort  had  encouraged 
the  men.  They  were  ready  for  anything.  As  they  rushed 
through  the  one  street  the  inhabitants  of  the  huts  and  few 
houses  came  out  and  followed  in  alarm  to  ascertain  what 
meant  this  strange  procession  of  blacks  with  a  girl  at  their 
head. 

Fascinated  by  the  national  game,  the  Spanish  soldiers  at 
the  posada  heard  nothing  of  this  outer  disturbance.  Not  until 
a  black  with  a  murderous  machete  stood  at  the  right  of  each 
of  them  did  they  comprehend  that  they  were  powerless  to  re- 
sist the  capture  which  threatened  them.  Random  shots  were 
fired  in  the  excitement  that  ensued.  The  keeper  of  the  po- 
sada and  six  soldiers  were  thus  disabled  by  the  weapons  of  the 
Spaniards  themselves. 

The  people  of  the  hamlet  made  no  effort  to  assist  the  sol- 
diers. They  gave  their  sole  attention  to  the  figure  of  the  girl 
who  presided  like  a  general  over  this  overthrow  of  the  enemy. 
When  each  man  had  at  last  realized  that  he  was  a  prisoner  and 
that  his  personal  arms  had  been  taken  possession  of  by  his 
captor,  Raquel  stepped  into  their  midst. 

"You  are  my  captives!"  she  told  them  with  the  tone  and 
glance  of  a  conqueror.  "  My  men  have  seized  your  fort  and 
taken  your  guns  and  stores.  You  Spaniards  have  made  my 
father  prisoner;  you  have  killed  my  husband.  This  is  the 
beginning  of  my  revenge." 

"  We  have  not  done  this,  seiiora,"  cried  the  lieutenant.  "  We 
know  not  of  what  you  speak !" 

"  Spain's  emissaries  have  done  it,  and  you  fight  under  the 
same  flag,"  the  retort  rang  out  in  her  clear,  fearless  voice, 
"  though  how  well  you  fight  I  have  had  no  opportunity  of 
observing !" 

There  was  subdued  laughter  among  the  villagers,  whose 
sympathies  were  all  Cuban  when  it  was  possible  to  have  them 
so  safely. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  311 

She  turned  to  them  quickly. 

"  In  the  name  of  the  country  that  affords  us  livelihood,  1 
demand  your  carts,  your  horses,  and  all  the  provisions  that 
you  can  gather  together.  The  former  will  be  returned  to  you 
when  we  see  fit." 

There  was  not  a  demur.  Though  not  wholly  awake  to  the 
need  of  their  land,  they  were  unanimous  in  the  desire  to 
atford  this  beautiful,  masterful  girl  whatever  she  demanded  of 
them.  They  laughed  in  the  faces  of  the  chagrined  soldiers 
and  went  to  obey  her  bidding. 

[aime  Arco  and  his  discomfited  men  knew  what  Spanish 
justice  would  accord  them  for  the  flagrant  neglect  of  duty 
which  had  gotten  them  into  this  dilemma.  Each  looked  into 
the  other's  troubled  countenance  questioningly.  None  of 
them  relished  the  prospect  of  being  shot  in  the  Moro  or,  at 
the  best,  being  transported. 

In  that  moment  of  triumph  Raquel  thrilled  with  the  joy  of 
the  victor.  She  felt  as  strong  as  if  she  had  been  a  dozen  men. 
Bound  as  they  were,  despoiled  of  arms,  these  bragging  sol- 
diers of  Spain  were  like  children  in  the  hands  of  her  men. 
Thev  knew  too  well  the  power  of  the  machete  stroke  to  dare 
anything  now,  even  were  their  limbs  free.  She  smiled  at 
their  humiliation  with  the  bitterness  of  a  heart  that  found  that 
even  this  triumph  brought  her  no  cessation  of  pain. 

When  the  country  people  had  brought  out  before  the  front 
of  the  posada  all  that  they  could  spare,  she  sent  ten  of  the 
men  to  load  in  the  ammunition  from  where  it  was  concealed 
in  the  manigua.  As  matters  had  turned  out,  that  had  been  a 
quite  unnecessary  precaution. 

She  was  glad  that  she  had  not  made  the  mistake  of  wait- 
ing for  night.  All  this  had  been  consummated  in  much  less 
time  than  she  had  expected,  and  they  would  be  far  on  the 
road  through  the  manigua  before  nightfall.  She  intended  to 
take  the  prisoners  along.     She  had  decided  what  she  would  do. 

Each  one  of  her  men  now  was  well  armed.  The  Span- 
iards were  not  aware  of  their  inability  to  employ  the  rifles  to 
advantage. 

When  ready  to  depart,  the  cavalcade  assumed  pretentious 
portions.  Ahead  rode  Diego  and  old  Pablo  on  two  well-fed 
animals:  immediatc-ly  following  them  went  the  carts  with  the 
munitions   of   war   and   the   provisions.     Then  marched   the 


312  A    DA  UGH  TEA'    OF  CUBA. 

Spaniards  witn  a  black  beside  each  one,  vigilant.  On  as 
many  horses  as  were  provided  she  mounted  her  remaining 
men,  taking  a  fresh  animal  herself  and  returning  the  other  to 
the  montero. 

As  they  passed  out  of  the  village,  Diego  lifted  his  som- 
brero and  cried : 

"  Viva  Cuba  libre  !  " 

The  words  passed  from  throat  to  throat  in  a  continuous 
shout  that  was  taken  up  by  the  villagers,  who  openly  rejoiced 
at  this  defeat  of  the  very  men  with  whom  they  had  been  mak- 
ing merry  a  short  time  previous. 

Mile  after  mile  of  this  country  road  was  traversed  by  the 
triumphant  company.  The  blacks  shot  remarks  at  each  other 
over  the  heads  of  their  captives.  They  were  enjoying  every 
step  of  the  way.  They  were  ready  to  administer  any  manner 
of  punishment  that  their  mistress  might  devise. 

The  Spaniards  marched  gloomily.  One  and  all  had  de- 
cided upon  the  course  to  pursue.  They  had  no  fear  of  the 
sentence  of  death  from  this  band.  They  knew  that  in  no  case 
had  a  prisoner  taken  by  the  insurgents  been  shot.  What  they 
were  afraid  of  was  the  judgment  of  Spain. 

It  was  on  the  verge  of  the  sudden  darkness  known  to  t^e 
tropics  that  Raquel  gave  the  order  which  brought  all  the  pris- 
oners up  before  her  in  ten  rows  of  five  each.  Surrounding 
them  stood  her  men  with  drawn  machetes. 

Their  faces  blanched  at  the  sight.  What  they  had  not  ex- 
pected seemed  to  have  come  upon  them.  They  looked  at  the 
stern,  white  countenance  of  the  girl  leader  with  wonderment. 
Could  she  witness  without  flinching  the  sight  which  would 
follow  the  order  which  seemed  to  be  on  her  lips? 

In  that  hush  of  waiting,  the  lieutenant  stepped  forward  as 
well  as  the  stout  cord  which  extended  from  one  heel  to  the 
other  w^uld  permit. 

"  Sefiora  inia"  he  pleaded,  "  we  are  ready  to  join  the  insur- 
gent forces.  Show  mercy  to  us !  Let  us  go  with  you.  We 
will  be  loyal  to  your  cause.  We  have  learned  your  wrongs ; 
we  will  be  glad  to  fight  with  you.  We  dare  not  return  to  the 
Spanish  army." 

"  I  accept  no  one  who  has  fought  under  the  flag  of  Spain," 
she  said  in  reply.  "  I  understand  what  awaits  you  as  soldiers. 
You  deserve  it.     You  were  not  faithful -to  the  cause  you  es- 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  313 

poused.  I  have  no  intention  of  offering  you  punishment.  The 
law  of  Cuba  is  the  law  of  mercy.  In  a  moment  my  men  will 
set  you  free.  You  will  be  at  liberty  to  return  to  your  empty 
fort  or  to  find  your  way  to  the  ranks  of  Cuba's  revolutionists. 
I  will  have  none  of  you." 

At  a  significant  motion  from  her,  the  waiting  men  cut  the 
cord  attached  to  the  feet  of  the  prisoners. 

"  You  will  have  no  difficulty  in  walking  back  to  the  hamlet," 
she  told  them.  "  The  people  there  will  be  glad  to  release  the 
thongs  that  bind  your  hands.  The  first  man  who  attempts 
to  follow  us  will  be  shot." 

There  was  no  mistaking  her  determination. 

They  understood  that  if  they  joined  the  Cuban  army  it 
would  not  be  with  her  recommendation. 

The  lieutenant  turned  to  his  men  and  gave  the  order  for 
attention.  Then  he  faced  the  eyes  of  her  who  sat  looking 
down  upon  them  from  her  horse. 

"  We  are  men  who  are  able  to  recognize  nobility  in  an 
enemy,"  he  said  proudly.  "You  captured  us  fairly.  We  de- 
serve no  such  consideration  as  you  show  us.  As  a  woman, 
we  revere  your  courage;  as  a  Cuban,  we  respect  youl  You 
never  may  hear  of  us  again,  but — Cuba  has  won  fifty  sol- 
diers! God  save  the  island  and  her  daughters!  Viva  Cuba 
libre  !  " 

His  men,  obedient  to  their  leader,  echoed  his  speech  with 
enthusiasm.     The  blacks,  surprised,  took  up  the  Cuban  cry. 

Raquel's  face  flushed  crimson  with  their  tribute,  then  paled 
again. 

The  lieutenant  gave  quick  orders.  The  Spaniards  wheeled 
and  marched  down  the  rapidly  darkening  road. 

Raquel  and  her  men  watched  them  out  of  sight  silently. 
Then,  leaving  six  to  watch  that  no  effort  was  made  to  follow 
them  and  learn  their  destination,  the  tiny  army  pursued  its 
track  back  into  the  safety  of  the  forest's  edge. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

They  struggled  on  considerably  farther  into  the  crepuscu- 
lous  gloom  when  the  advance  of  day  admitted,  but  they 
found  that  the  carts  would  have  to  be  abandoned  and  their 


314  A    DAUGHTER    Of    CUBA. 

contents  conveyed  on  the  animals  through  the  green-fringed 
aisle. 

This  was  an  undertaking  which  promised  to  consume  much 
time.  Here  the  blacks  proved  that  their  ingenuity  and  train- 
ing was  far  in  excess  of  that  of  their  young  leader.  They  cut 
down  the  parasitic  vines  and  ropes  that  had  woven  themselves 
among  the  thick  foliage.  These  they  deftly  manufactured 
into  panniers  which  would  serve  well  their  purpose.  Elate 
with  their  success  in  this  their  first  raid  against  the  enemy, 
they  made  a  vociferous  medley  with  their  excited  voices,  as 
each  related  to  each  the  struggle  he  had  had  with  his  soldier 
before  he  had  gotten  the  fellow  bound  and  submissive.  That 
they  felt  at  liberty  to  dilate  somewhat  on  the  extent  of  these 
various  victories  was  to  be  expected,  and  they  improved  the 
privilege. 

Raquel  felt  inclined  to  ride  on  alone  to  the  cave  and  allay 
the  anxiety  which  she  knew  was  reigning  there  in  the  breasts 
of  Tia  Juana  and  the  unprotected  women.  She  was  curious 
to  prove  to  the  Spanish  soldier  that  she  had  not  over-rated 
her  ability  to  lead  her  men,  but  her  fatigue  was  so  great  that 
she  was  compelled  to  delay  the  satisfaction  of  this  pride.  She 
sighed  as  she  realized  how  ill-fitted  she  was  in  strength  and 
endurance  to  carry  out  the  projects  that  formed  themselves  in 
her  mind. 

"  I  shall  have  to  become  inured  to  hardship,"  she  said  to 
herself  as  she  lay,  half-recumbent,  among  the  soft  green 
things.  "  It  will  not  be  as  difficult  for  me  as  it  is  for  the  poor 
boys  whom  Spain  sends  over  here  to  be  seized  with  the  fever 
before  they  ever  can  fire  a  gun.  I  know  the  climate.  I  have 
a  will  like  iron.  My  body  shall  obej'  me !  It  never  shall  find 
rest  until  my  country  and  my  father  are  free!     God  help!" 

Her  memory  travelled  back,  by  force  of  association,  to  that 
other  time  when  she  had  lain  thus  close  hy  the  water  of  this 
very  river  that  dashed  so  tirelessly  on.  How  strangely  Zu- 
fiega  had  looked  at  her  on  that  day  I  And  how  far,  far  back 
in  the  past  it  seemed  !  What  unlooked-for  things  had  the 
future  held  for  each  of  them!  Where  was  he  now?  Was  he 
really  to  land  the  expedition  of  which  Valdes  had  spoken  ? 
Perhaps  in  this  war  his  would  be  the  fate  which  had  befallen 
her  father  or  M.  Theuriet!  She  shivered  and  laid  her  face 
down  against  the  soft  leaves. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF    CiPA.  315 

"  Her  ear,  near  the  ground,  caught  the  sound  of  horses' 
feet.  She  leaped  upright  and  called  to  the  negroes,  but  thtir 
voices  had  reached  such  a  pitch  that  her  cry  of  alarm  was  not 
distinguishable. 

She  rushed  through  the  undergrowth  with  but  one  clear 
thought  in  view — to  spring  out  in  front  of  the  horsemen,  start- 
ling them  with  the  unexpected  sight  of  a  woman.  This,  she 
calculated,  would  give  her  men  time  to  get  ready  for  action. 
But  the  riders  were  nearer  than  she  had  thought.  She  caught 
a  glimpse  of  the  face  of  the  foremost  one  as  his  horse  stole 
out  of  the  wan  twilight  of  the  trees. 

She  halted,  speechless,  her  lips  apart.  Her  breath  came 
quickly.     Her  heart  beat  with  great,  stifling  throbs. 

She  heard  the  negroes  give  shouts  of  surprise  and  terror  as 
they  discovered  the  coming  invaders,  but  she  did  not  look 
toward  them.  She  knew  that  they  yelled  to  each  other  that 
the  Spaniards  had  followed. 

"  We  are  no  dogs  of  Spaniards!"  she  heard  the  first  of  the 
riders  cry  in  a  tone  that  had  the  command  of  a  general.  "  We 
are  for  Cuba  and  libertad.  Drop  your  machetes!  What  are 
you  doing  here?" 

Like  a  wraith,  Raquel  slipped  out  from  the  shadowy  veils 
of  the  festooned  trees. 

"  They  are  my  men !"  she  said,  looking  up  into  the  face  of 
the  leader  with  gaze  in  which  he  read  only  unutterable  woe. 
"  They  are  for  liberty  also." 

"  Raquel ! — here  !" 

With  the  fleetness  of  a  swallow  the  man  was  out  of  his 
saddle  and  beside  her.  He  caught  both  of  her  hands  in  his 
and  stood  looking  down  into  her  eyes,  his  own  burning  with 
an  intensity  that  banished  all  of  their  melancholy. 

"  I  have  obeyed  you,"  he  said  softly.  "  I  have  come  back 
to  fight  for  you !" 

To  Raquel,  at  that  moment,  all  that  ever  had  been  in  life 
seemed  to  be  consumed  by  that  fire  in  the  face  above  hers.  A 
marvellous  sense  of  joy  crept  with  the  swiftness  of  light  through 
her  veins.  Everything  appeared  possible  and  easy  of  accom- 
plishment, even  to  the  emancipation  of  Cuba  and  the  freeing 
of  her  father,  as  she  was  held  there  with  this  youth  of  the  for- 
est absorbing  her  very  life  into  his  own  with  the  look  beneath 
his  lids. 


3l6  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

"  I  need  you,  Zuiiega !"  she  answered,  whether  with  her 
lips  or  her  eyes,  neither  of  them  really  knew. 

"  What  has  happened?"  he  cried.  "  What  makes  you  a 
mountain  refugee?" 

"  What  but  Spain !"  was  the  bitter  reply.  "  M.  Theuriet 
has  been  killed!     My  father  is  a  prisoner!" 

Zuiiega  stepped  backward  with  horror.  He  shuddered  to 
think  of  what  she  had  been  called  upon  to  pass  through. 

"  Lithgow !"  he  called. 

A  figure  which  had  sat  motionless  on  his  horse  dis- 
mounted. He  had  seen  it  all — the  revelation  which  had 
voiced  itself  from  the  girl's  illumined  face.  He  went  forward 
with  the  smile  in  his  blue-gray  eyes  that  a  man  wears  when 
he  knows  he  is  meeting  the  annihilation  of  a  dream. 

Through  all  the  days  of  the  journey  toward  Cuba,  through 
all  the  hours  of  the  wearisome  tramping  through  the  moun- 
tains, he  and  Zufiega  had  talked  of  Raquel  and  her  probable 
gladness  could  sh?  know  that  they  were  marching  against  the 
soldiers  of  Campos.  And  secretly  each  man  had  wondered 
what  look  her  face  would  wear  when  she  beheld  him.  This 
position  at  the  Cave  of  Lost  Spirits  Zuiiega  had  chosen  be- 
cause of  its  importance  as  the  army  of  Gomez  moved  upward 
through  the  island ;  but  both  he  and  Lithgow  knew  that  its 
proximity  to  the  estates  had  not  been  without  influence  in  the 
matter.  They  had  stored  a  few  arms  and  had  gone  back  for 
another  supply  and  to  secure  horses  and  provisions.  It  was 
during  this  absence  that  Raquel  had  taken  possession. 

Unconfessed,  each  had  felt  that,  even  though  she  was  the 
wife  of  the  Frenchman,  she  would  be  committing  no  crime  if 
she  allowed  for  an  instant  a  glance  of  satisfaction  to  reward 
him  for  the  effort  he  intended  to  make  for  the  abolition  of 
Spanish  tyranny,  and  he  had  been  anxious  to  obtain  that 
glance.  Now  Lithgow  knew  that,  however  enthusiastic  might 
be  the  look  bestowed  upon  him  by  Raquel,  it  would  lack  that 
which,  in  his  weak,  selfish  moments,  he  had  hoped  to  see. 

"  What  terrible  thing  has  driven  you  to  the  mountains?"  he 
cried,  clasping  anxiously  the  hands  which  she  had  withdrawn 
from  Zuiiega's  grasp.     "  Has  the  plantation  been  burnt?" 

"  Oh,  worse,  worse,"  she  answered,  scarcely  able  to  restrain 
the  emotion  which  the  sight  of  his  familiar  face  awakened. 
"  I  am  alone,  trying  to  fight  Spain  with  what  strength  I  have. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  317 

I  mean  to  rescue  my  father.  He  has  been  betrayed  into  the 
hands  of  enemies.  He  is  dead  or  a  prisoner!  I — oh ! — is  your 
free  country  sending  her  gallant  men  down  here  to  aid 
us?- 

Lithgow  shook  his  head.  He  was  aghast  at  this  which  had 
befallen  the  genial  planter.  He  knew  of  no  words  with  which 
to  express  the  pain  and  pity  which  surged  up  through  his 
heart  for  this  fearless,  impassioned  creature  arraying  herself 
and  her  forces  as  best  she  knew  how  against  her  country's 
enemy  and  the  wrecker  of  her  home. 

"  I  come  not  as  an  American  but  as  a  man  who  will  war 
against  oppression  wherever  he  finds  it,"  he  replied  gently. 
"  M.  Theuriet — is — safe?"  Her  announcement  that  she  was 
alone  filled  him  with  wonder. 

"  He  is  dead!"  she  told  him  with  lips  that  trembled.  "  The 
Spaniards  killed  him.  We  have — buried  him — on  the  plan- 
tation." 

Lithgow  looked  at  Zuiiega  with  horrified  eyes.  Her  an- 
guish-drawn face,  and  grief-shadowed  eyes  told  of  what  black 
terrors  had  assailed  her. 

"  I  have  a  thousand  pairs  of  arms  that  will  avenge  you," 
Zunega  said  solemnly. 

"  And  I  have  ninety  courageous  men  who  have  taken  the 
Spanish  fort  at  Yaez  I"  she  said  modestly. 

Astounded,  the  two  viewed  the  corroboration  afforded  her 
assertion  by  the  collection  of  rifles  and  ammunition  that  the 
blacks  were  guarding,  even  though  now  they  were  convinced 
that  the  strangers  were  friends.  Amazed,  they  exchanged 
incredulous  glances  and  regarded  her  lithe  form  with  mascu- 
line wonder.  The  entire  company  dismounted  and  surveyed 
the  result  of  the  raid,  while  Lithgow  insisted  on  hearing  a 
thorough  account  of  the  entire  affair,  Raquel  gave  the  vic- 
tory to  the  unmistakable  valor  of  her  men,  and  had  it  not 
been  for  Diego,  who,  despite  her  orders,  obeyed  Lithgow  and 
related  graphically  the  capture,  the  tale  would  have  been  a 
short  one.  But  what  Diego  omitted  the  other  men  supplied, 
until  the  vanquishment  of  the  fifty  Spaniards  was  made  known 
eventually  with  all  its  details  to  the  listening  men.  When 
Diego  repeated  the  speech  of  the  lieutenant.  .  united  shout 
went  up  from  the  throats  of  these  Cuban  sold.ers  for  the  girl 
whose  coolness,  bravery,  and  finesse  had  wrought  so  unquali- 


3l8  A    DAUGHTER   01'    CUBA. 

fied  a  success  from  what  might  easily  have  been  a  disastrous 
failure. 

They  swept  their  sombreros  low  before  her  in  one  mighty 
tribute. 

"  The  land  that  holds  women  who  are  as  fearless  and  as 
patriotic  as  its  men  is  not  a  land  that  will  be  crushed  again  by 
any  force  that  Spain  may  send  from  her  bankrupt  soil !"  cried 
one.     "  We  will  be  led  by  a  daughter  of  Cuba !    Viva  libertad  !  " 

Zufiega  looked  around  over  his  men  with  a  light  in  his  face 
that  they  read  but  did  not  wholly  understand.  The  two 
noblest  fires  that  ever  burn  in  the  human  heart  made  his 
blood  leap  with  godlike  vigor  through  his  veins.  Before 
him,  free,  stood  the  woman  whom  he  loved  as  men  love  once 
and  once  only.  Around  him  rose  the  virgin  forests  of  the 
country  he  would  give  his  life  to  save. 

"That  is  spoken  like  a  Cuban,"  he  said,  with  his  grand 
head  thrown  back  and  a  smile  in  his  eyes.  "  In  this  war  that 
we  will  wage  against  the  barbarism  of  tyrant  Spain  there  shall 
be  committed  no  crimes  at  which  our  mothers  and  our  sisters 
might  blush !  We  fight  for  the  women  of  Cuba  and  for  our 
future  homes!  We  will  sweep  over  the  island,  but  mercy, 
purity,  and  victory  will  be  our  watchwords!  And  the  world 
shall  know  what  manner  of  men  it  is  who  struggle  for  the  land 
of  their  birth !" 

He  unsheathed  his  sword  and  extended  it  to  Raquel,  who 
had  heard  all  this  without  comprehending  its  relation  to  her. 

"  My  men  have  chosen  you  for  their  leader,  I  am  under 
your  command,"  he  said,  bowing. 

Bewilderedly  Raquel  gazed  into  the  enthusiastic  counte- 
nances of  the  men  who  cheered  the  action. 

"I  am  one  of  you,"  she  finally  said  clearly;  "I  will  fight 
side  by  side  with  you  through  every  battle,  if  I  may ; — but  led 
by  your  leader!  This  man  who  rides  at  your  head  is  he  who 
rescued  me  from  the  grasp  of  Gonzalo  Alarcon,  the  bandit. 
He  brought  me  through  these  very  paths  that  lead  to  the  Cave 
of  Lost  Spirits  only  a  short  year  ago.  He  said  then  that  when 
the  hour  came  for  the  liberation  of  Cuba  that  he  would  follow 
the  leader  who  might  arise.  That  is  Jose  Marti !"  She  handed 
the  sword  back  to  Zunega.  She  motioned  her  men  nearer. 
"  You  are  his  followers  now,  not  mine,"  she  told  them. 

"  Marti  is  dead!"  Zuiiega  said  sadly,  "  but  we  fight  as  if  he 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  319 

lived!  I  do  not  accept  your  men.  They  are  subject  to  no 
orders  but  yours;  yet,  from  this  moment  our  bands  will  be- 
come united  in  one  hope : — we  will  avenge  the  death  of  M. 
Theuriet ;  we  will  fight  for  the  emancipation  of  our  island ; 
we  will  accomplish  the  liberation  of  your  father." 

The  soldiers  fell  to  work  helping  the  blacks  get  the  cap- 
tured munition  in  shape  to  carry  forward. 

Lithgow  occupied  himself  in  winning  from  Raquel  the  his- 
tory of  all  that  had  transpired  since  he  had  taken  his  depar- 
ture with  Annizae.  He  listened  to  what  she  had  been  able  to 
do  in  Havana  in  affording  information  to  the  rebels  of  the 
movements  in  the  official  circles.  He  listened  troubledly  to 
the  story  of  the  disposition  of  the  jewels.  He  commented 
on  the  strangeness  of  the  fact  that  that  danger  had  been 
almost  providential  in  that  it  had  brought  her  back  to  the 
plantation  at  the  moment  when  of  all  others  she  most  was 
needed.  He  was  very  tender  and  sympathetic.  He  read  the 
meaning  of  the  new  lines  which  the  bitter  brush  of  experience 
had  wrought  into  her  face  during  the  last  year. 

Despite  the  satisfying  conviction  that,  in  the  matter  of 
birth  and  fortune,  he  was  now  the  equal  of  this  woman  who 
had  stirred  him  from  the  lethargy  of  his  forest-enclosed  exist- 
ence, Zuiiega  was  conscious  of  the  same  timid,  reverent  feel- 
ing which  had  been  his  as  an  island  outlaw.  After  the 
moment  of  surprise  was  over  when  he  had  allowed  her  name 
to  leap  from  his  lips  as  he  spoke  it  religiously  in  the  secret 
chambers  of  his  soul,  he  was  overcome  afresh  by  the  inexpres- 
sible adoration  he  bore  her.  He  tried  to  shut  his  passion 
down  beneath  his  lids,  and  he  moved  among  his  men,  dwelling 
proudly  on  the  enormous  value  of  the  stores  she  had  made 
Cuban  property.  He  scarcely  saw  the  things  he  looked  upon, 
however,  so  entrancing  was  the  ecstasy  which  pervaded  him. 
He  had  thrilled  under  the  look  which  had  come  to  her  eyes 
when  he  had  held  her  hands  in  his;  every  palpitating  sense 
told  him  what  he  had  read  there,  but  he  dared  not  drink  from 
this  chalice  of  hope.  He  rested  his  eager  lips  on  its  rim  and 
peeped  down  wistfully  into  the  magic  draught.  Was  it  for 
him  to  drain?  A  thousand  and  one  little  things  had  told  him 
that  the  American  loved  her  too.  He  glanced  out  of  his  dark 
eyes  to  where  the  two  sat  talking.  He  observed  how  com- 
pletely they  appeared  to  understand  each  other.     He  heard 


320  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

her  teil  Lithgow  that  she  carried  with  her  continually  the 
book  which  he  had  given  her.  With  the  poignancy  of  tor- 
ment he  said  to  himself  that  he  was  no  mate  for  her.  What 
knew  he  of  these  books  that  had  been  her  mind's  food?  He 
drew  a  long  breath  and  looked  up  into  the  mass  of  florescence 
above  his  head.  He  had  had  no  volume  but  Nature  until  s/ie 
had  come,  and  even  that  had  been  half-sealed  to  him  until, 
with  the  lifting  of  her  innocent  lids,  had  been  shown  him  the 
mysterious  meaning  of  life. 

He  quivered  with  the  remembrance  that,  in  the  days  to 
come,  he  was  to  be  near  her.  He  marvelled  over  the  fate  that 
not  only  had  made  her  a  widow  but  had  brought  their  paths 
together  in  this  struggle  which  was  to  be  the  demolition  of 
Spanish  reign  in  the  West  Indies. 

It  was  Lithgow  who  saw  to  it  that  Zunega  and  not  he  rode 
before  Raquel  when  the  march  was  taken  up  toward  the  cave. 
He  knew  well  what  was  in  the  heart  of  the  youth ;  he  thought 
he  read  what  was  struggling  for  recognition  in  the  heart  of 
the  girl  who  spoke  with  him  of  the  past  while  her  eyes 
wandered  unconsciously  in  the  direction  of  Zunega's  steps. 
If  to  his  own  lips  crept  words  that  craved  utterance,  he  smiled 
them  back  with  grave  control.  He  perceived  that  that  clasp 
of  fingers  in  the  moonlight  on  the  night  of  the  contradanza 
had  no  such  place  in  her  memory  now  as  it  held  in  his. 

As  they  moved  on  ahead  of  him  through  the  intricacies  of 
the  green  tangles  which  overhung  the  edge  of  the  stream,  he 
looked  down  at  the  sharp  rocks  which  here  and  there  jutted 
up  out  of  the  water  fretted  with  the  lacework  of  the  foam, 
and  he  propounded  to  himself  a  problem  that  only  the  years 
ahead  of  him  could  solve :  "  What  are  Beatrice  and  I,  who 
love  those  two  souls  ahead  who  love  each  other,  to  do  with 
our  lives  and  our  love.-*  Her  heart  and  its  comprehension  will 
go  into  her  art,  and  her  work  will  live.  It  is  only  the  unsatis- 
fied heart  that  accomplishes  and  leaves  its  silent  history  writ- 
ten in  its  achievements.  The  happy  human  is  content  and 
stagnates!  But  what  will  I  do  with  the  half-century  which 
probably  is  left  to  me?  I  can  fight  for  Cuban  independence, 
but  after  that ?" 

He  halted  his  horse  and  remained  studying  the  waters 
until  the  long  procession  of  horsemen  came  up  with  him. 

Zuiiega  and  Raquel  passed  on  slowly  out  of  sight. 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA.  32 1 

There  were  a  multitude  of  questions  she  might  have  asked 
him  concerning  the  varied  experiences  which  had  been  his 
since  he  had  ridden  away  from  La  Sacra  Sonrisa,  but  she 
thought  of  none  of  them. 

He  turned  and  looked  at  her  now  and  then  with  his  soul  in 
his  face. 

And  they  did  not  know  that  they  were  silent. 

A  scarlet  blossom  dropped  on  her  horse's  mane,  as  if  it  had 
been  flung  by  a  laughing  fairy's  fingers.  She  caught  it  and 
pressed  it  to  her  lips.  She  was  reproaching  herself  that  she 
could  feel  the  beauty  of  this  ride  when  her  father,  hopeless, 
anguished,  lay  in  the  hideousness  of  some  Spanish  prison. 
But  the  sound  of  the  horses'  hoofs  on  the  stones  by  the  river 
kept  time  to  something  that  beat  in  her  blood,  something 
new  and  wholly  strange  and  indescribably  sweet.  And  she 
asked  not  its  name. 

The  green  life  which  spread  itself  so  luxuriantly  about 
them  seemed  to  understand  far  better  than  these  evanescent 
humans  did  this  sudden  blossoming  forth  of  joy.  The  dark 
leaves  appeared  to  lean  toward  them  yearningly  as  if  to  whis- 
per. The  secret  stole  like  magic  through  the  labj-rinths.  A 
murmur  crept  about  them  that  they  heard  only  when  the  time 
came  that  the  path  would  allow  no  further  progress  on  horse- 
back. 

Zunega  stood  for  a  moment  with  his  hand  on  the  neck  of 
her  animal.  He  heard  the  sighing  murmur.  It  seemed  to 
him  that  it  whispered  that  never  again  was  to  come  such  an 
instant  as  this  out  of  life.  His  eyes  drew  hers  irresistibly. 
The  muscles  of  his  arms  quivered  as  he  held  them  up  to  lift 
her  down  from  the  saddle. 

"  Have  we  not  known  this  path  before?"  he  said  softly,  as 
he  placed  her  on  her  feet.  "  I  loved  you  then,  and  knew  it 
not.  I  love  you  now.  I  want  you  for  my  own,  but — I  will 
wait — I  will  wait!  It  is  evil  to  speak  while  you  have  grief  in 
your  heart,  but  the  words  will  not  be  smothered  longer.  They 
break  their  way  up  from  where  they  have  burned  ever  since  I 
first  saw  you — that  first  moment  when  you  faced  Alarcon." 

"  Hush,  do  not  speak!"  begged  Raquel.  "  Leave  it  all  un- 
said.    I  must  not  listen;  I  must  forget  your  words." 

"  But   you   will   not   forget?"    he  pleaded.     "  I  will  speak 
them  again  never — unless  you  bid." 
21 


32  2  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

"  Speak  them  again — when  Cuba  and  my  father  are  free,** 
she  said. 

Lithgow,  riding  on  with  feigned  laboriousness,  rounded  a 
curve  and  saw  them  through  a  misty  veil  of  emerald  lace  as 
they  stood  thus,  looking  into  each  other's  faces.  He  reined 
in  his  horse  sharply,  with  a  sick  pain  forcing  itself  upon  his 
consciousness. 


CHAPTER    XXVm. 

On  reaching  the  camp  they  found  that  a  great  change  had 
been  wrought  in  the  appearance  of  the  place. 

The  Spaniard,  wearying  of  complete  inaction  and  to  con- 
sume the  long  hours  of  the  absence  of  Raquel  and  the  men. 
had  persuaded  the  women  to  follow  his  directions  and  prepare 
a  cleared  place  which  would  serve  the  needs  of  the  camp. 
Little  by  little  they  had  made  noticeable  inroads  upon  the 
vegetation,  and  Zuiiega  was  quick  to  perceive  the  value  of  the 
suggestion. 

When  all  the  explanations  were  over  and  the  surprise  and 
rejoicing  had  abated  concerning  the  triumphant  return  of 
Raquel' s  band,  he  and  Lithgow  talked  with  the  sick  soldier, 
obtaining  from  him  his  account  of  the  treachery  employed  to 
entrap  the  sugar  planter.  His  praise  for  the  girl  who  had 
borne  herself  so  bravely  through  the  disasters  which  had  en- 
compassed her  won  for  him  the  friendship  of  the  two  men, 
who  gave  respectful  attention  to  his  ideas  concerning  the 
necessity  of  establishing  in  this  safe  retreat  a  mountain  hos- 
pital. 

"  Here  is  running  water,  seiiors,  and  women  to  nurse  the 
injured."  he  said,  "  while  there  still  remains  the  plantation  of 
the  dead  seiior  from  which  to  draw  supplies." 

"  But  there  have  been  few  signs  that  the  revolution  is 
going  to  creep  up  into  this  province,"  Zunega  remarked  sig- 
nificantly to  him.  "  There  may  not  be  a  battle  big  enough  to 
furnish  us  with  subjects  for  a  hospital.  Jose  Marti  is  dead 
and  the  insurrection  is  believed  to  be  ended." 

The  Spaniard  looked  the  Cuban  full  in  the  eyes. 

"  You  and  I  both  know  that  this  war  never  will  be  ended 
until  Cuba  is  free,"  he  returned.  "  Your  leaders  mean  to  make 
every  district  their  own.     You  will  lead  the  Spanish  boys  on 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  323 

weary  marches  that  will  net  them  nothing.  They  will  die  of 
the  fever  and  despair.  You  know  your  island;  we  do  not. 
But  already  we  have  learned  one  thing — you  Cubans  are  mag- 
nificent enemies.  Your  Gomez  compliments  his  prisoners  on 
their  valiant  fighting,  and,  instead  of  shooting  them,  he  re- 
turns to  them  their  swords  and  sets  them  free  !  There  is  not 
one  of  us  but  would  fight  on  your  side  if  he  dared.  Your 
humanity  wins  you  the  admiration  of  the  world.  I  am  ashamed 
to  be  a  Spaniard." 

"  Then  we  will  count  you  one  no  longer,"  declared  Zu- 
iiega.  "  When  you  are  able  to  bear  arms,  if  ever  you  are,  you 
shall  be  one  of  us.  Until  then  you  shall  be  at  the  head  of 
the  hospital  staff.  You  are  right.  We  do  mean  to  make 
every  province  our  own.  Puerto  Principe  will  be  in  the  hands 
of  our  men  before  the  dry  season  sets  in.  If  you  have  no 
other  patients,  you  shall  have  Spaniards!" 

And  his  words  proved  true — more  than  true. 

Before  the  grinding  season  not  only  Puerto  Principe  but 
Santa  Clara  as  well  was  in  the  hands  of  the  revolutionists. 
Only  the  large  cities  remained  unmolested.  General  Roloff 
continued  calmly  his  plans  of  interfering  with  the  transporta- 
tion of  troops  and  the  transmission  of  telegraphic  signals. 
General  Gomez  moved  unhesitatingly^  up  through  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  island.  Maceo  carried  on  extensive  operations 
in  unison  with  other  leaders.  Pinar  del  Rio  rose  up  with  in- 
numerable bands  that  kept  the  wearied  Spanish  soldiers  con- 
stantly on  the  move.  Spain  no  longer  could  keep  the  fact 
from  the  world  that  the  entire  island  was  in  a  state  of  revolt. 

As  the  armies  of  the  Cubans  swept  like  magic  from  one 
spot  to  another,  they  were  augmented  by  those  who  came  out 
from  the  towns  and  joined  their  fortunes  with  the  patriots. 
When  the  Spanish  pursued,  in  hopes  of  forcing  a  battle,  the 
revolutionists  vanished,  only  to  reappear  at  another  place  from 
which  they  obtained  provisions,  fresh  animals,  recruits.  But 
when  there  was  anything  to  gain,  the  Cubans  themselves  did 
the  attacking,  and  the  official  reports— not  given  to  the  world 
— contained  many  dismal  accounts  of  victories  that  placed  the 
insurgents  in  possession  of  Spanish  arms  and  ammunition. 
And.  these  reports  more  than  once  mentioned  the  fact  that  at 
the  head  of  the  dauntless  column  of  men  rode  a  beautiful  girl, 
fully  armed  and  conversant  with  the  tactics  of  war. 


324  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

Unscathed  she  went  through  many  a  conflict  that  Spanish 
correspondents  spoke  of  slightingly,  giving  no  suggestion  of 
their  brave  dead  that  they  left  on  the  field  to  be  borne  away 
by  the  more  humane  insurgents.  It  was  a  strange  thing  which 
all  the  world  commented  on,  that  in  no  battle  did  the  Span- 
iards lose,  yet  the  revolutionists  marched  on  undeterred  and 
the  Governor-General  continually  begged  for  more  men  from 
Spain. 

The  hospital  in  the  mountain  became  filled  to  overflowing 
with  the  wounded,  and  the  Castilian  lad  who,  half  crippled, 
watched  anxiously  over  his  patients  under  the  direction  of 
medical  men  who  had  slipped  from  the  cities  to  the  ranks  of 
the  patriots,  saw  to  it  that  those  who  were  Spaniards  received 
no  less  care  and  comfort  than  did  the  impatient  men  of  the 
island,  who  were  anxious  to  be  in  the  field  again. 

A  satisfactory  communication  was  carried  on  with  the 
coffee  estate.  Local  Spanish  officials  had  not  interfered  with 
the  picking  of  the  crop.  The  deserted  plantation  of  La  Sacra 
Sonrisa  had  not  been  taken  possession  of  by  the  enemy,  and  it 
even  seemed  to  Raquel  that  it  might  have  been  well  to  have 
remained  there,  only  she  knew  that  she  could  not  have  en- 
dured the  sight  of  the  dear  court  and  the  absence  of  her  father. 
In  the  rush  and  excitement  of  the  scenes  amid  which  she  now 
found  herself,  she  kept  distinctly  before  her  the  thought  that 
all  this  was  for  the  freeing  of  him  whom  she  loved.  This  ter- 
rible struggle,  with  its  bloodshed  at  which  her  heart  sickened 
and  her  head  reeled,  was  to  throw  open  the  dungeons  wherein 
had  languished  for  years  Spain's  suspects.  The  horror  of  the 
life  into  which  she  had  thrown  herself  became  no  less  with  the 
passage  of  time,  but  the  knowledge  that,  though  the  forces  of 
the  Spanish  were  not  annihilated,  the  situation  was  rapidly 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  fighters  for  freedom,  gave  her 
strength  to  ride  side  by  side  with  Zufiega  or  Lithgow.  The 
soldiers  declared  that  she  won  the  battles.  Her  very  pres- 
ence seemed  to  dismay  the  foe.  To  merit  her  praise,  the 
Cubans  fought  in  a  way  that  carried  terror  to  the  disheart- 
ened Spaniards,  half  fed,  under-paid,  if  paid  at  all. 

There  came  a  time  when  she  remained  at  the  camp  for 
some  days,  while  plans  were  completed  for  the  extended  raid 
which  was  to  carry  them  up  through  the  Matanzas  district. 
The  Spanish  at  Havana  were  saying  that  the  insurgents  had 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  325 

become  dissatisfied  with  their  generals  and  were  on  the  eve  of 
a  rupture ;  and  while  they  thus  deceived  themselves,  General 
Gomez  was  making  the  phenomenal  march  up  through  Puerto 
Principe  into  the  district  of  Havana. 

Tia  Juana,  half  frantic  at  the  hardships  to  which  Raquel 
voluntarily  was  exposing  herself,  was  in  the  middle  of  an  elo- 
quent remonstrance,  to  which  the  Spaniard  lent  support,  when 
a  messenger  came  from  La  Buena  Esperanza  with  a  supply  of 
coffee  and  the  intelligence  that  the  sugar  plantation  was  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  mayor  of  the  neighboring  town,  who  de- 
clared that  he  would  grind  the  cane  in  spite  of  all  the  insur- 
gents in  Cuba. 

Raquel  rose  to  her  feet  and  put  Tia  Juana's  retaining  hands 
away  gently. 

"  That  mayor  is  one  of  the  men  who  are  responsible  for  the 
imprisonment  of  my  father,  I  know,"  she  said.  "  He  is  a  Span- 
iard. Whether  he  or  Spain  is  to  derive  the  revenue  from  our 
sugar  is  a  question  I  will  not  wait  to  have  answered." 

"Where  go  you,  scfiorita  mial"  cried  Tia  Juana,  seizing 
her.     "  You  go  not  back  there !" 

"  Yes,  and  it  is  thou  who  wilt  accompany  me,"  answered 
Raquel  determinedly.  "  There  are  no  men  here  to  do  that 
which  must  be  done ;  besides,  I  myself  wish  to  see  it.  The 
plantation  shall  be  fired!" 

Unwilling,  but  not  daring  to  disobey,  Tia  Juana  mounted 
behind  Raquel  and  they  followed  back  through  the  forest  the 
woman  who  had  come. 

"When  the  cane  is  burning,"  said  Raquel  to  the  woman, 
"  you  and  those  who  are  at  La  Buena  Esperanza  must  load 
into  the  carts  all  of  the  coffee  with  which  you  safely  can  es- 
cape. They  will  take  possession  of  that  crop  next — if  they 
can." 

"There  is  not  much  to  seize,  sciiorita  iitia,"  laughed  the 
woman.  "  We  have  been  carrying  it  to  the  edge  of  the  moun- 
tain and  concealing  it  even  as  we  picked  it." 

"  Bueno !  Who  thought  of  so  wise  a  thing?"  exclaimed 
Raquel. 

"The  Spanish  soldier,  sciiorita  w/<7."  explained  Tia  Juana, 
who  never  yet  had  been  able  to  call  her  mistress  by  the  ma- 
tronly title  she  had  acquired  with  marriage.  "  Thinks  he  not 
of  everything — no?' 


326  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

All  the  blood  of  the  Palgraves  flamed  within  Raquel  when 
she  came  within  sight  of  the  walls  of  her  lost  home.  Whether 
or  not  these  were  the  men  who  were  instrumental  in  the  mis- 
fortune which  had  become  hers,  they  were  Spaniards  and  their 
tread  desecrated  sacred  ground.  Righteous  rage  was  hers  as 
she  looked  out  once  more  over  the  wide-spreading  fields. 

"  They  shall  lie  blackened,  the  mill  itself  shall  burn  before 
one  pound  of  sugar  shall  be  made  by  those  who  still  keep  their 
heels  on  the  necks  of  Cubans!"  she  vowed. 

In  the  darkness  she  and  Tia  Juana  made  their  way  through 
the  unguarded  aisles  of  the  cane  estate.  The  fires  were  burn- 
ing in  the  mill,  but  the  number  of  men  who  could  be  procured 
to  work  were  few  and  there  was  no  grinding  at  night.  With 
a  hand  that  faltered  not  she  touched  the  torch  to  the  acres 
that  Spain  had  confiscated.  Here  and  there  the  flames  began 
to  spring  up,  slowly  at  first,  then  creeping  with  eager,  lapping 
tongues  on.  When  certain  that  no  amount  of  fighting  could 
save  the  sugar-cane,  she  and  the  tired,  breathless  negro  wo- 
man rode  out  of  the  reach  of  danger  and  watched  the  confla- 
gration sweep  up  grandly  against  the  midnight  sky.  They 
could  hear  the  cries  of  alarm  which  were  given  when  the  fire 
was  discovered.  They  could  see  the  figures  of  men,  rushing 
back  and  forth  excitedly,  outlined  against  the  lurid  light. 

It  was  a  magnificent  sight — that  sea  of  flame !  The  two 
women  watched  it  silently,  while  from  the  coffee  plantation 
passed  the  remainder  of  the  gathered  crop,  accompanied  by 
those  who  now  deserted  the  estate,  fearing  the  brutality  of 
the  Spaniards. 

The  fire  swept  onward  toward  the  mill  resistlessly.  Ra- 
quel laid  her  hand  on  Tia  Juana's  arm. 

'■  It  is  all  going  to  go,"  she  whispered  with  a  break  in  her 
voice.  "  From  the  works  it  will  leap  to  the  quarters  and  from 
there — through  the  orange  grove  to  the  house !  It  will  cross 
the  grave  of  M.  Theuriet — but  he  will  not  know !  I  wonder 
if  my  father— wherever  he  may  be — sees  in  a  dream  this  awful 
crimson  glow  eating  into  the  home  where  he  brought  my 
mother  a  bride !" 

"  Stop,  sefwrita  mia  !  "  sobbed  Tia  Juana.  "  You  break  my 
heart!  See!  The  quarters  are  catching!  Oh,  are  you  not 
sorry,  C/iita  T' 

"  No !"    answered  Raquel ;    but  tears  filled  her  eyes  and 


A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA.  327 

rained  down  her  face.  It  was  the  first  time  that  actual  relief 
in  tears  had  come  to  her  since  that  terrible  night.  All  the 
scenes  she  had  witnessed  during  the  months  she  resolutely 
had  followed  Zuiiega's  leadership  had  not  moved  her  as  did 
this  destruction  of  her  home. 

In  spite  of  Tia  Juana's  pleadings,  she  stood  watching  until 
the  red,  ravishing  blaze  died  into  fitful  up-leapings.  And  all 
the  waving  fields  stretched  wide  and  forlorn  as  if  a  plague 
had  touched  them. 

Then,  as  the  first  pearly  hues  of  dawn  stole  softly  on  the 
fringe  of  night's  sable  trappings,  they  hastened  and  joined 
the  refugees  from  La  Buena  Esperanza,  who  were  only  too  glad 
to  have  their  guardianship  of  the  property  of  the  dead  M. 
Theuriet  brought  to  an  end.  One  by  one  the  men  had  slipped 
into  the  forest  and  had  not  come  back.  Fearful  but  obedient, 
the  women  had  staid  on  alone,  gathering  the  coffee  berry  and 
conveying  it  to  places  of  safetj',  from  which  spots  it  readily 
could  be  obtained  by  the  camp  forces.  As  they  pushed 
through  the  forest  in  a  trail  that  now  had  grown  familiar  and 
friendly  to  them  because  of  freqi:ent  travel  over  its  soft  mould, 
the  women  glanced  pityingly  at  the  traces  of  grief  in  the  face 
of  their  young  mistress.  They  hushed  their  speech  and 
moved  ahead  of  her,  holding  back  the  daring  vines  that  con- 
stantly strove  to  twine  their  verdant  strength  across  the  path 
and  obliterate  the  wreckage  wrought  by  these  trespassers. 

Raquel  followed  them  slowly,  wearily. 

The  stupendousness  of  this  task  that  faced  the  valorous 
Cubans  had  never  seemed  to  oppress  her  as  it  did  now,  when 
the  ashes  of  her  home  lay  smouldering  behind  her. 

"  It  is  what  must  be  done,"  she  murmured  sadly  under  her 
breath;  "the  plantations  of  Cuba  must  be  sacrificed  to  the 
hope  that  is  in  our  breasts.  If  the  crops  are  destroyed,  how 
can  the  planters  pay  taxes?  And  if  they  pay  no  taxes,  Spain 
can  no  longer  7ciiih  our  gold  supply  her  soldiers  with  that 
which  will  enable  them  to  conquer  us  I  On  the  altar  of  liberty 
the  Cubans  will  offer  up  their  crops,  their  homes,  if  need  be! 
And  the  light  of  the  sacrificial  fires  will  attract  the  attention 
of  the  world  to  our  need." 

The  word  spread  through  the  insurgent  camps,  in  that 
strange  inexplicable  way  which  baffled  Spanish  generals,  that 
from  the  penal  colonies  of  southern  Spain  a  battalion  of  crimi- 


328  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

nals  had  been  sent  and  were  now  in  active  operation  under 
the  command  of  the  officer  who  brutally  had  butchered  the 
sick  occupants  of  a  rebel  hospital  camp,  reserving  only  those 
who  were  Spanish  soldiers,  receiving  care  and  medicine  from 
the  men  against  whom  they  had  fought. 

This  act  of  hideous  barbarism  drove  many  into  the  ranks 
of  the  patriots  who  before  had  endeavored  to  remain  neutral. 
If  there  was  wanting  anything  to  fan  the  Cuban  fire  into  a 
universal  conflagration,  such  uncalled-for  inhumanity  did  the 
work. 

By  the  same  method  of  communication  which  kept  the 
revolutionists  in  constant  possession  of  every  move  of  the 
Spanish  army,  Zunega  and  the  other  bands  in  his  vicinity 
were  apprised  that  a  government  transport  train  of  two  hun- 
dred mules,  carrying  ammunition  worth  twenty  thousand  dol- 
lars, was  hastening  to  the  support  of  the  anxious  generals  in 
Santa  Clara.  It  was  understood  that  the  same  officer  who  had 
so  richly  won  their  hatred  was  commanding  the  expedition. 

This  was  the  time  that  both  Zufiega  and  Lithgow  begged 
Raquel  not  to  accompany  them.  They  knew  the  peril  for  her 
far  better  than  she  did. 

"  What  if  you  should  be  captured  by  these  men  who  come 
from  convict  cells !"  argued  Lithgow.  "  The  fate  which  is 
your  father's  is  nothing  to  what  yours  would  be.  Remain  in 
camp !  Every  man  among  us  will  strike  a  blow  for  you.  You 
are  our  queen,  but  it  is  unwise  to  risk  3'ourself  in  such  a  bat- 
tle as  this  will  prove  to  be." 

"  The  accident  of  birth  which  made  me  a  woman  instead 
of  a  man  shall  not  keep  me  from  any  struggle  into  which  my 
company  goes,"  she  declared  proudly.  "  I  am  becoming  strong 
and  full  of  endurance.  No  man  would  be  allowed  to  shirk  his 
duty  because  it  promised  to  be  disagreeable.     Neither  must  I." 

She  held  her  dark  head  with  its  riotous  hair  in  the  same 
manner  in  which  she  had  carried  it  that  day  in  the  sala  when 
she  had  told  her  father  what  she  would  do  if  she  were  a  man. 
She  looked  the  American  in  the  face  with  eyes  that  showed 
the  bravery  of  the  spirit  which  would  not  be  conquered  by 
woman's  fear. 

"  I  have  a  queer  presentiment,  Raquel,"  he  told  her.  He 
called  her  by  her  name  now.  She  had  said  to  him  that  it  gave 
her  a  feeling  of  comfort  to  hear  her  name  spoken  as  her  father 


A    DAUGHTER   OF   CUBA.  3^9 

had  spoken  it.  During  this  terrible  time  in  which  she  had 
not  faltered  from  her  post,  he  had  tried  to  take  the  place  of 
father,  brother,  mother  to  her.  In  numberless  ways  he  had 
contrived  to  make  the  privations  of  their  life  less.  Resolutely 
he  had  buried  every  thought  inimical  to  the  love  he  bore 
Zutiega.  So  carefully  had  he  sustained  his  part  that  the  girl 
never  dreamed  of  the  gladness  this  self-contained  Northerner 
found  in  being  able  to  minister  unto  her. 

'•  That  I  shall  be  killed?"  she  questioned  with  the  calmness 
that  comes  from  looking  death  in  the  face  frequently. 

'•  There  are  worse  things  than  that,"  he  replied,  shaking  his 
head.  "  I  do  not  think  you  will  meet  with  death  in  the  Held; 
bullets  fly  by  you;  your  life  seems  charmed.  But  I  feel  that 
I  am  dreading  something.  What  it  is— I  don't  know.  I  wish 
you  would  not  go  into  this  engagement." 

She  smiled  at  him.  He  saw,  with  a  sudden  fresh  realiza- 
tion, how  all  the  youth  was  being  taken  out  of  her  face.  But 
the  girlish  softness  of  contour  had  given  place  to  a  wonderful 
character  that  told  how  her  nature  was  chiselling  itself  into 
her  features. 

'■  Have  you  forgotten  that  in  our  book,  yours,  mine,  and 
Beatrice's,  there  is  something  like  this:  'If  I  have  shrunk 
unequal  from  any  contest,  instantly  the  joy  I  find  in  all  the 
rest  becomes  mean  and  cowardly'?"  returned  she.  "When 
Cuba  is  free  I  could  not  bear  to  think  that  I  had  not  struck 
every  blow  that  was  possible  for  me  to  strike." 

And  that  was  the  feeling  which  bore  her  through  the  attack 
which  was  made  on  the  Spanish  detachment.  Through  the 
thick  of  the  engagement  she  rode  with  her  blacks  obeying  her 
orders.  The  sight  of  her  seemed  to  demoralize  the  troops  in 
the  way  that  it  often  did.  And  this  was  the  moment  which 
was  always  taken  advantage  of  by  Zuiiega's  men.  There  were 
only  six  hundred  soldiers  to  guard  the  ammunition  and  they 
quickly  found  themselves  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  but  in 
the  first  melee  there  had  been  some  desperate  fighting  done 
by  the  officer  in  charge,  who  knew  that  to  lose  this  valuable 
store  would  mean  for  him  disgrace  and  removal. 

It  was  during  this  time  that  Raquel  saw  Lithgow  pitch 
forward  and  fall  from  his  horse.  The  blood  left  her  heart. 
She  reeled  in  her  own  saddle.  Then  she  urged  her  men  on 
wilder  than  ever. 


330  A    DAUGHTER    OF   CUBA. 

When  the  entire  transport  train  was  theirs  and  the  field  lay 
strewn  with  the  dead,  Raquel  crept  with  limbs  that  trembled 
under  her  to  where  she  thought  he  lay.  Those  who  had  been 
in  the  rear  had  borne  him  to  a  place  far  from  the  hoofs  of  the 
horses.  He  was  not  unconscious.  He  tried  to  smile  when 
she  dropped  on  her  knees  beside  him  with  her  sorrow  written 
in  her  eyes  and  trembling  lips. 

"  My  presentiment, — you  know,"  he  said  faintly.  "  I  am — 
so  glad  it  was  I, — not  you." 

"  But  you  are  not *' 

"  Yes,"  he  whispered  with  an  effort,  "  only  just  a  few  min- 
utes more,  dear.     Will  you  write " 

"  To  Beatrice?"  she  asked,  making  no  pretence  of  hiding 
her  tears. 

He  assented  by  a  pressure  of  her  fingers  which  held  his 
with  that  grasp  which  essays  so  vainly  to  restrain  the  flight  of 
that  which  goes  unseen. 

He  studied  her  face,  bent  so  near  him,  with  eyes  that  were 
hungry  and  could  no  longer  hide  their  hunger. 

"  Will  you — kiss  me?"  he  asked  with  growing  weakness. 
"  Once, — just  once.  I  have  loved — you — and  you  have  not — 
known." 

With  a  sob  of  inarticulate  anguish  she  laid  her  face  down 
against  his. 

"  The  contradan — za — you  have — forgotten, "he  said  softly. 
"  I  can — never " 

She  placed  her  arms  around  him  and  held  him  thus  while 
his  eyes  grew  dim. 

"  I  have  not  forgotten,"  she  said.  And  the  chords  in  her 
throat  tightened  and  Cuba  itself  faded  out  of  her  mind.  "  But 
how  could  I  know  that  you  remembered?" 

A  fresh  pulse  of  life  became  his  for  the  moment.  A  joy 
pierced  the  mist  creeping  over  his  vision. 

"  If — "  he  sighed  feebly.  Then,  with  a  thought,  seemed  to 
come  a  sense  of  necessity  for  action.  He  sought  to  lift  him- 
self, but  fell  back.  "  It  is  better  so,"  he  whispered  with 
difficulty.  "  Marry  Zunega; — don't  wait.  You  must  not  be 
alone  here.  Marry  him — now.  For  me, — death  is  sweeter 
— than  a  life — without — you." 

"  But  it  is  you  whom  I  love!  "  Raquel  cried  wildly,  her  long- 
guarded  secret  breaking  forth  resistlessly.  "You  shall  not 
go  from  me!     I  will  not  lose  you!  " 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  33 1 

Frantically  she  tore  at  his  blood-stained  garment,  suddenly 
realizing  that  precious  moments  had  been  spent. 

"Zufiega, — Zunega!  He  is — dying!"  she  moaned  with 
frenzy,  as  she  watched  the  light  of  love  in  his  eyes  give  way 
to  complete  unconsciousness  of  his  surroundings.  "  Save 
him, — save  him!     For  I  love  him, — I  love  him!" 

Called  hurriedly  from  the  far  side  of  the  field,  Zufiega 
had  galloped  up  madly  and  now  flung  himself  from  the 
saddle,  in  time  for  her  passionate  appeal  to  reach  his  ears, 
lis  double  import  turned  his  face  almost  as  gray  as  Lithgow's 
own.  He  sent  one  agonized  glance  into  her  anguished  eyes 
and  read  there  crushing  confirmation  of  the  avowal  her  grief 
had  wrung  from  her. 

Speechless  with  pain,  he  knelt  beside  Lithgow,  aiding 
her  trembling  fingers  in  disclosing  the  wound.  There  was  no 
time  for  expressions  of  woe.  But  his  heart  sickened  within 
him  as  he  suddenly  grasped  how  deep,  how  immeasurable 
was  the  love  he  bore  this  American  and  how  powerless  was 
that  love  in  a  battle  with  Death. 

"  There  is  a  chance, — one  in  a  thousand,"  he  told  her 
encouragingly,  as  he  endeavored  to  stanch  the  flow  of  blood. 
"  But  we  must  work  rapidly." 

All  the  surgical  skill  the  camp  afforded  was  brought  into 
play.  They  labored  breathlessly,  their  hearts  failing  them 
as  he  seemed  to  pass  swiftly  beyond  all  earthly  succor. 
There  came  an  awful  moment  of  strange  hush.  Zufiega 
looked  up  at  her  blanched  face  with  fear  in  his  own, 

"  I  myself  would  die  to  return  him  to  you,"  he  said 
brokenly,  "but — it  is  too  late!" 

The  last  barrier  of  woman  pride  went  down  before  that 
flood  of  sorrow.  With  a  wail  of  sharp  despair,  Raquel 
pressed  her  quivering  lips  hungrily,  entreatingly  to  Lithgow's, 
so  chilled  and  unresponsive. 

What  startling  telegraphy  was  that! 

Back  from  the  borderland  of  the  vast  Silence  its  quick- 
ening power  summoned  him.  Through  all  his  veins  crept 
slow  thrills  of  warming  blood.  There  was  faint  pulsing  of 
the  heart  once  more. 

The  first  stage  in  the  fight  with  Death    was  won. 

But  it  was  destined  to  be  a  great  struggle,  in  which  noth- 
ing but  sleepless,  tireless  love  could  prove  victorious. 

Days  and  nights  of  unwearied  watching  followed. 

Not  recognizing  the  identity  of  those  who  nursed  him, 
Lithgow's  fevered  mind  roamed  back  through  the  past.     He 


332  A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

talked  wistfully  of  his  mother,  long  dead.  He  called  for 
Beatrice.  He  spoke  familiarly  of  those  whose  paths  his  own 
had  crossed. 

And  Raquel  endured  pangs  of  acute  jealousy  amid  her 
sweet  work  of  ministering  to  him.  Nevertheless,  she  wrote 
to  the  northern  girl,  telling  of  his  danger  and  the  hope  they 
held  of  his  recovery.  This  letter  was  to  be  entrusted  to 
Zufiega,  who,  in  turn,  would  give  it  into  the  charge  of  thu^e 
Cubans  who  formed  means  of  communication  with  the  coast. 
To  while  away  long  hours,  during  which  she  sat  by  the  side 
of  Lithgow,  Raquel  jotted  down  the  events  of  the  day  to- 
gether with  Lithgow's  symptoms  and  Zuiiega's  daring  raids. 
And  the  letter  grew  in  size  and  became  a  sort  of  diary;  and 
it  was  long  before  it  found  its  way  to  the  one  for  whom  it 
was  intended. 

On  one  of  the  anxious  nights  when  she  and  Zunega  kept 
watch,  the  latter  brought  himself  to  whisper  softly: 

"When  health  comes  again  to  him  and  he  is  able  to  be 
conveyed,  we  will  go  to  San  Juan  de  las  Yevas.  There  the 
padre  will — marry  you.  It  should  be  so.  Always  have  I 
known  he  loved  you,  but — I  was  selfish.  I  am  so  no  more. 
My  life  belongs  to  my  people.  His  he  has  risked  to  battle 
with  us  for  our  land;  and — he  has  won  a  daughter  of  Cuba. 
I  myself  will  tell  him  it  is  so." 

But  the  weeks  were  many  and  lapsed  into  months  before 
this  magnanimous  intention  could  be  carried  into  effect. 

Zunega  and  the  band  were  ordered  to  the  support  of  the 
leader  of  the  insurgent  forces,  and,  as  there  were  several  in 
the  camp  too  ill  to  be  moved,  Raquel  and  the  women  were 
left  in  care  of  the  hospital,  with  a  few  of  the  blacks  to  guard 
and  serve  as  messengers.  The  young  Spanish  soldier  had 
recovered  sufficiently  to  take  the  field,  and  he  had  gone  with 
joy  to  fill  Lithgow's  place. 

Into  the  safety  of  the  hospital  retreat  penetrated  reports 
that  the  tide  of  rebellion  had  swept  through  all  the  provinces 
until,  in  despair,  Spain  had  exchanged  General  Campos'  civil- 
ized methods  for  the  inhuman  policy  of  his  successor,  who 
speedily  instigated  the  war  of  extermination  of  the  helpless. 
License,  butchery,  untold  horrors  boastfully  were  added  to 
the  grievous  burden  of  hideous  wrongs  the  struggling  Cubans 
were  giving  their  lives  to  avenge. 

The  pitiful  cries  of  starving  children,  the  moans  of  bereft 
mothers,  the  sobs  of  outraged  womanhood  reached  the  ears 
of  those  in  the  land  to  the  north.    A  thrill  of  sympathy  swept 


A    DAVGIITER   OF  CUBA.  333 

through  its  vast  territory  from  coast  to  coast.  But  the  law 
of  nations  stifled  this  expression;  and  a  mighty  people,  afire 
with  righteous  indignation,  compelled  itself  to  silence  and 
inaction. 

And  the  men  who  fought  for  liberty  fought  also  to  secure 
revenge  for  the  murder  and  rapine  wrought  by  the  tyrants. 
The  tales  told  of  the  sufferings  of  the  reconcentrados  steeled 
anew  their  sad  hearts  and  added  fuel  to  the  deathless  hope 
burning  within  them. 

And  while  all  this  transpired,  Lithgow  slowly  tightened  his 
grasp  upon  the  threads  of  life  and  began  to  weave  again  the 
pattern  of  the  fabric  called  his  own. 

There  had  been  a  dawn  which  brought  a  noticeable  change 
in  his  aspect.  Raquel  had  bent  above  him  with  a  suffocating 
leaping  of  her  heart,  which  made  her  face  white  and  strained. 
She  had  felt  herself  a  powerless  witness  to  a  struggle  between 
two  opposing  forces  for  the  nerveless  body  of  the  man  she 
loved.  She  had  dropped  to  her  knees  in  an  agony  of  suppli- 
cation and,  at  that  instant,  the  lids  which  had  been  closed  for 
such  a  weary  while  had  lifted  slowly,  questioningly,  and  his 
eyes  had  looked  into  hers  with  answering  intelligence. 

"  Raquel  !  Are  both  of  us — dead  ?  "  he  had  whispered 
wistfully. 

Then   he  had  slept  the  sfeep  of  restfulness,  knowing  his' 
hand  lay  in  hers. 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

The  old  church  on  the  road  to  the  town  of  San  Juan 
basked  in  the  tropical  sunlight  as  it  had  done  for  a  century. 
Nothing  disturbed  it,  not  even  the  murmur  of  war's  alarms. 
But  there  came  a  day  when  its  indolent  padre  was  aroused 
from  his  siesta  by  the  loud  clanging  of  the  three  bells. 

He  sprung  to  his  feet  with  more  alertness  than  was  his 
wont.  The  reports  that  the  rebels  were  near  had  not  been 
conducive  to  restful  slumbers  lately.  His  fat  legs  shook 
beneath  him  as  he  hurried  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  this 
unusual  commotion. 

He  found  himself  confronted  by  a  circle  of  frowning 
horsemen  who  commanded  him  to  open  the  entrance  to  the 
church. 

'-Sleeping?"  demanded  the  leader,  observing  signs  of 
somnolency.  "  How  can  you  dream  while  your  country 
bleeds?  " 


334  ^    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 

The  padre  made  a  conciliating  attempt  at  conversation, 
noticing  that  the  expressions  their  eyes  wore  suggested  such 
a  dire  possibility  as  the  poles  on  which  the  three  bells 
hung  being  made  to  serve  again  their  original  purpose  —  a 
gallows. 

"What  would  you,  senor?  "  he  questioned  quakingly.  "I 
can  not  fight.     I  am  a  priest,  sworn  to  peace." 

"So  was  Father  Arteaga,"  returned  the  leader,  "yet  he 
fought  in  the  ten-year  war.  But  —  it  takes  courage  to  fight; 
and  you  look  as  if  you  had  but  appetite.  Open  your  church  I 
You  can  marry,  I  suppose,  even  if  you  can  not  defend  the 
land  which  provides  you  with  a  living." 

Confused  and  fearful  of  what  seemed  to  threaten  him, 
the  padre  had  failed  to  detect  that  one  of  the  riders  was  a 
woman. 

Regarding  her  curiously  out  of  the  corners  of  his  heavy- 
lidded  eyes,  he  swung  the  doors  wide  and  summoned  one 
to  light  the  candles  while  he  prepared  himself  for  the 
ceremony. 

As  they  moved  up  the  nave  to  the  martial  music  of  the 
ringing  of  spurs,  a  cry  of  recognition  broke  from  their  lips 
at  sight  of  the  woman  who  appeared  in  response  to  the 
padre's  call. 

"  Faqulta  !  " 

She  dropped  the  candle  she  was  lighting.  With  aston- 
ished gaze  she  faced  those  who  advanced. 

"  What  do  you  here  ?  "  cried  Raquel  excitedly. 

"By  day  I  serve  the  padre,"  she  replied.  "At  night  — 
I  dance  with  whom  I  will."  She  laughed  coquettishly  at  the 
group  of  Cubans. 

"  Do  you  not  recognize  me  ?"  questioned  Zuuega,  step- 
ping forward. 

She  shook  her  head,  though  she  answered: 

"You  are  of  the  great  outside  world;  I  can  see  that. 
Why  have  you  come  back?" 

"For  'Cuba  Libre,'"  declared  he  boldly. 

A  swift  look  of  fear  crossed  her  features.  She  held  up 
her  hand   warningly. 

"  Come  with  us,"  urged  Raquel.  "  It  is  like  a  taste  of 
the  old  life  of  which  you  were  so  fond." 

Faquita  shrugged  her  shoulders, 

"  There  is  life  here."  she  returned  carelessly.  "  The  town 
is  full  of  soldiers  and    there  is  gayety." 

"Who  is  commandante  ?"  asked  Zuiiega. 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  335 

''One  whom  it  would  not  be  well  for  you  to  meet,"  was  her 
answer.  "He  has  sought  you  relentlessly  since  the  day  you 
stole  the  seiiorita  from  him." 

"What  mean  you  ?"  demanded  Zunega. 

"I  mean  that  Gonzalo  Alarcon  seeks  to  find  you  that  he 
may  have  revenge  because  you  returned  his  prize  to  the  arms 
of  her  father."     She  glanced  at  Raquel  and  smiled. 

"But  you  had  a  part  in  that,  Faquita,"  reminded  Raquel 
quickly. 

"True,"  she  admitted,  "and  proud  am  I  of  it." 

"How  comes  it  that  he  is  commander  here?"  queried  Lith- 
gow. 

"We  heard  he  had  met  death  by  hanging,"  said  Raquel, 
troubled  at  the  discovery  of  the  proximity  of  him  who  had 
brought  to  her  so  much  of  suffering. 

"So  it  was  announced,"  stated  Faquita.  "But  to  save  his 
neck  he  swore  to  place  at  the  service  of  the  Spaniards  all  his 
knowledge  of  the  forests  and  the  plans  of  the  insurgents." 

"Traitor  !"  exclaimed  Zunega  wrathfully.  "He  shall  drink 
the  cup  of  death  at  my  hands.  He  always  was  a  Spaniard  at 
heart,  as  he  is  by  birth." 

"If  Alarcon  is  at  the  head  of  the  soldiers  in  yonder  town, 
why  are  you  here  serving  the  padre,  Faquita?"  queried  Lith- 
gow  curiously. 

"What  is  that  to  you  .?"  retorted  she.  "Perhaps  I  do  pen- 
ance." 

"Penance  because  you  also  have  turned  traitor  ?"  persisted 
the  American. 

Faquita  flushed  angrily. 

'■^Quien  sabe  ?"  she  said  simply,  controlling  her  tongue. 

"Ah,  who  knows?"  repeated  Lithgow.  "But  I  wish  to 
know,  Faquita.  Let  me  tell  you  this:  He  who  is  true  to 
Cuba  is  wise,  for  the  hour  approaches  when  America  will  aid 
Cuba  to  sweep  from  her  shores  both  traitor  and  tyrant." 

Facjuita  put  out  her  hand  impulsively.  A  joy  shot  into 
her  eyes. 

"Is  it  so  ?"  she  asked  eagerly,     "The  senora  will  be  glad." 

Raquel  leaned  forward,  struck  by  a  sudden  thought. 

"Sefiora ?"  she  questioned. 

Faquita  exhibited  annoyance  at  her  apparent  lapse  of 
caution. 

"The  great  lady  of  this  province — is  it  she  ?"  Raciiiel 
pressed  the  query  with  keen  insistence. 

The   eyes   of    the   two   met   and    a  swift    interchange   of 


336  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

confidence  took    place,  by  what  method  neither  could  have 
told. 

"And  if  it  is ?"  Faquita  ventured. 

"I  shall  ask  you  to  bear  her  a  message  from  me,"  said 
Raquel,  to  the  complete  mystification  of  the  men.  "You  did 
me  an  inestimable  service  once.  What  can  I  offer  you  to 
serve  me  again  ?" 

Faquita's  ear  caught  the  sound  of  the  padre's  steps  and  com- 
pelled silence  with  a  gesture,  but  there  was  that  in  her  manner 
which  convinced  Raquel  that  her  appeal  had  not  been  in  vain. 

"Is  she  to  be  trusted  ?"  whispered  Lithgow  anxiously. 

"That    is    what    we    must   discover,"    returned    Zufiega 
troubledly. 
V         Before  the  little  altar  in  the  bleak  edifice  which  was  des- 
tined to  serve  in  the  future  as  a  hospital  for  wounded  Span- 
yV^^^^ards,  the  wedding  party  knelt  reverently,  while  Raquel  and 
^  Lithgow  solemnly  took  the  vows  which  bound  their  lives  as 

their  hearts  were  bound — indissolubly. 

It  was  wholly  unlike  the  marriage  in  which,  at  times  in  his 
life,  Lithgow  dreamily  had  figured  himself  one  of  the  chief 
actors.  But  his  head  whirled  with  ecstasy  and  his  hand 
trembled  when  the  priest  placed  Raquel's  fingers  within  his 
and  gave  her  the  sacred  name  of  wife.  His  mind  shot  back 
to  the  night  of  the  contradanza.  How  their  fingers  clung 
together  for  that  sweet  stolen  moment !  The  memory  of  it 
thrilled  him  yet.  And  he  marveled  at  the  strange  fortunes 
of  war  which  had  awarded  to  him  the  very  happiness  against 
the  striving  for  which  he  then  had  battled  so  valiantly. 

Zunega  stood  in  the  capacity  of  Raquel's  guardian,  his 
handsome  face  so  successfully  masking  his  emotions  that 
Faquita  studied' him  curiously. 

"  I  thought  you  it  was  who  loved  her  ! "  she  ventured  in  an 
undertone  when  the  ceremony  was  over. 

"  So  I  do,"  was  his  calm  reply,  "  too  well  to  allow  it  to 
separate  them.     I  have  but  one  passion  now — Cuba." 

"  Nor  I,"  she  whispered,  glancing  cautiously  over  her 
shoulder  at  the  padre. 

Zunega  sent  a  penetrating  glance  into  the  depths  of  her 
very  soul  and  knew  she  spoke  the  truth. 

"We  need  you,"  he  said. 

"lam  needed  more  here,"  was  her  answer.  'You  will 
comprehend  when  I  deliver  the  message  and  bring  her  a 
reply.     This  will  I  do  to-night  if  you  camp  within  reach." 

A  hurried  conversation  ensued  between  the  women,  then 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  337 

the  cavalcade  rode  away  as  quietly  as  it  had  approached.  The 
padre  turned  over  a  glittering  coin  in  his  palm  and  secretly 
debated  the  advisability  of  purchasing  the  fighting  cock  on 
which,  for  months,  he  had  had  his  eye. 

Faquita  returned  to  her  interrupted  duties.  At  dusk  she 
went  cityward,  as  was  her  custom.  She  was  bent  on  a  dan- 
gerous mission.  How  well  she  executed  it  was  evidenced 
just  before  midnight,  when,  in  company  with  another,  she  stole 
out  from  the  shadow  of  the  city  walls  and  sped  toward  the 
dark  forest  mantling  the  hills. 

Those  within  the  rebel  camp  awaited  impatiently  her  com- 
ing. When,  at  last,  was  heard  the  challenge  of  the  sentry, 
they  leaped  to  their  feet  in  keen  excitement,  prepared  for 
defense  if  it  should  prove  they  had  been  betrayed. 

As  two  dark-robed  figures  were  brought  forward  by  the 
guard,  Raquel  sprung  toward  them  with  a  cry  of  strangely 
mingled  emotion. 

"Pepita!  How  dared  you  come?"  she  sobbed  gladly 
against  the  face  of  Faquita's  companion.  "There  is  such 
danger." 

"  The  desire  to  see  you  was  too  great  to  be  resisted,"  re- 
turned the  Sefiora  de  Urquiza,  clasping  Raquel  with  the  ten- 
derness of  a  mother.  "  I  am  astonished,  dear.  Why  are  you 
here?     I  have  heard  nothing  since  you  left  Havana." 

Eager  questions  and  sad  replies  followed.  While  the  swift 
hours ^flew,  they  rehearsed  the  thrilling  events  through  which 
each  had  passed  ;  and  anxiously  they  formulated  plans  which 
Pepita  de  Urquiza  believed  she  could  carry  into  effect. 

"And  you  say  you  have  gained  not  one  clew  concerning 
the  fate  of  your  father,"  she  said  pityingly.  •  "  Did  it  ever 
occur  to  you  that  this  man,  Gonzalo  Alarcon,  may  have  been 
the  instigator  of  that  attack  upon  the  plantation  ?" 

Even  Facjuita  started  with  surprise  at  this  suggestion. 
"I  had  not  thought  of  it  before."  said  Zufiega.  "But  it 
would  be  like  Alarcon.  It  was  M.  Theuriet  he  intended 
should  be  abducted  at  the  time  Raquel  was  captured.  He 
had  not  abandoned  the  plan.  In  the  attack  he  may  have 
hoped  to  secure  Raciuel  once  more  after  capturing  or  killing 
her  natural  protectors.  Years  do  not  dull  the  edge  of 
Alarcon's  revenge,  as  I  will  Icarn  if  I  encounter  him." 

"  Faquita  should  be  able  to  unravel  this  mystery  if — — " 
began  T,ilhgow,  regarding  her  closely  by  the  illumination 
afforded  by  the  torches. 

"  I  have  known  nothing  of  Alarcon  ^ince  the  day  I  returned 


338  A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

to  camp  after  assisting  the  senorita  to  her  home,"  answered 
Faquita  bitterly. 

"Oh,  Faquita!"  cried  Raquel  anxiously.  "Was  your 
kindness  to  me  the  cause  of  trouble?  I  feared  it  might  be, 
I — what  can  I  do  to  recompense  you  at  this  late  day  ?" 

"  Speak  not  of  it,"  begged  Faquita.   "  It  was  meant  to  be!  " 

Noting  that  Lithgow  and  Zunega  appeared  doubtful, 
Pepita  de  Urquiza  said  explanatorily: 

"Alarcon  accused  her  of  spiriting  Raquel  away  and,  fear- 
ing for  her  life,  she  fled  the  camp  and  took  refuge  in  the 
household  of  the  padre.  There  I  saw  her  one  day.  Gather- 
ing her  history,  I  took  her  into  my  service  because  of  the 
friend  she  had  been  to  you,  Raquel;  and  it  seemed  a  strange 
freak  of  fate  that  across  my  path  should  come  one  who  had 
been  interwoven  with  the  fortunes  of  yourself  and  your 
friends.  Finding  she  could  be  trusted,  I  pressed  her  into 
secret  work  for  Cuba  and  what  she  has  accomplished  has  been 
of  the  first  importance  to  the  cause.  When  Alarcon  was 
captured  and  sentenced  to  death  her  resentment  vanished 
and,  though  a  price  had  been  set  on  his  head  for  years,  she 
longed  to  release  him;  but  when  he  turned  traitor  to  the 
island,  he  saved  his  neck  at  the  expense  of  her  love.  She 
vowed  then  that  she  would  labor  to  defeat  him  at  every  turn, 
and  she  has  done  well.  Woman's  wit  when  linked  to  hatred 
will  devise  schemes  that  man  can  not  circumvent;  and  Alar- 
con's  reign  as  commander  in  the  town  has  not  been  a  success- 
ful one,  owing  to  her  cleverness  at  unearthing  all  his  plans." 

"But  does  he  not  suspect  her?"  questioned  Raquel  curi- 
ously. 

"He  knows  not  of  her  proximity,"  replied  Pepita  smiling. 
"  If  he  did,  she  would  lie  in  the  prison  along  with  other 
unfortunates.  She  gains  all  information  from  the  soldiers, 
none  of  whom  relish  having  the  notorious  brigand  placed 
above  them,  even  though  he  be  tireless  in  his  attempts  to 
exterminate  the  rebels.  In  fact,  they  condemn  his  energy 
which  essays  so  many  fruitless  attacks  upon  the  alert  enemy 
that  always  seems  to  have  been  warned  just  in  time  to  vanish. 
Under-fed  and  never  paid,  the  Spanish  soldier  has  little  appe- 
tite for  fighting  and  does  not  take  readily  to  the  guerrilla 
warfare  Alarcon  seeks  to  introduce." 

"  I  would  like  nothing  better  than  to  make  an  assault  upon 
that  town  and  deal  the  fellow  the  desert  he  has  escaped  so 
long!"  cried  Lithgow.  "I  have  heard  it  reported  that  he  is  a 
convict,  one  of  the  many  Spain  has  seen  fit  to  empty  into  the 
island." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  339 

"  Mine  must  be  the  right  to  meet  Alarcon  with  weapons," 
claimed  Zuilega  gravely.  "He  shall  have  his  opportunity  to 
secure  revenge;  and  I — will  make  him  reveal  the  fate  of 
Raquel's  father  before  I  run  my  sword  through  his  traitor 
heart." 

He  felt  a  touch  on  his  arm  and  turned  to  see  Faquita's 
hands  held  toward  him  appealingly. 

"I  wish  not  death  for  him,"  she  said  softly,  "but  pun- 
ishment." 

Zufiega  hesitated. 

"  I  saved  the  sefiorita,"  she  reminded  him  wistfully. 

"And — I  will  spare  Alarcon,"  he  promised  slowly. 

She  bent  her  proud  head  and  touched  her  lips  to  his 
hand. 

"Sefiora,"  said  Lithgow  suddenly,  "what  was  hidden  in 
that  suggestion  that  Alarcon  may  have  prompted  the  attack 

on  La  Buena  Esperanza  ?     Were  you  wondering  if "    He 

paused  and  she  completed  his  sentence  swiftly. 

"  Yes;  I  was  wondering  if  Raquel's  father  might  not  be 
among  those  who  crowd  the  prison  at  San  Juan." 

Raquel  gave  a  cry.  Pepita,  with  infinite  pity,  put  her 
hand  out  and  caressed  the  dark  head  of  the  bereft  daughter. 

"  Do  not  hope  too  much,"  she  cautioned.  "  Many  have 
been  brought  to  those  bleak  walls.  Some  have  been — shot. 
Others  have  been  taken  to  Havana.  A  few  have  been 
deported  to  Ceuta." 

Raquel  covered  her  face,  shuddering  with  misery. 

"There  is  a  whisper  abroad  among  the  Spaniards,"  con- 
tinued Pepita,  "that  America  is  wakening.  They  tremble 
with  fear  lest  it  be  true.  Ah,  she  has  been  deaf  so  long, 
so  long  !  But  now,  if  she  comes  to  our  aid,  the  doors  of 
the  prisons  will  be  set  wide  and " 

"  Within  will  lie  the  lifeless  bodies  of  the  prisoners," 
prophesied  Zunega.  "  That  will  be  the  last  act  of  the 
Spaniard:  —  to  murder  those  in  chains." 

"  God  grant  you  speak  not  the  truth  ! "  sighed  Pepita 
sadly. 

When  she  and  Faquita  stole  like  wraiths  from  the  camp, 
wending  their  perilous  way  back  to  the  church,  every  detail 
of  necessary  movements  had  been  arranged  as  far  as  was 
possible.  Zunega  was  in  possession  of  valuable  information 
which  he  was  to  forward  to  other  leaders,  and  he  had  been 
able  to  furnish  Pepita  de  Urquiza  news  which  would  prove 
precious  to  her  in  her  difficult  role. 


340 


A    DAUGHTER    OF  CUBA. 


Faquita  was  to  return  with  whatever  discovery  she  suc- 
ceeded in  making.  But  she  did  not  come  on  the  second 
night;  nor  on  the  third. 

Zunega  was  confident  that  something  wholly  unexpected 
had  occurred  to  make  her  thus  fail  in  her  promise.  He 
knew  her  fearlessness  of  old  and  felt  it  had  not  deserted 
her  at  this  juncture. 

The  camp  was  moved  farther  into  the  forest  to  guard 
against  a  surprise,  and  sentries  were  stationed  to  escort  her 
through  the  labyrinth  when  she  should  appear. 

On  the  fourth  night  there  was  a  young  moon;  but  its 
tender  radiance  had  stolen  softly  down  the  west  and  deep- 
est midnight  was  upon  them  before  there  was  the  slightest 
stir  which  alert  sentinels  could  interpret  as  token  of  the 
approach  of  an  intruder.  Then,  in  reply  to  the  demand 
for  the  watchword,  Faquita's  voice  was  audible;  and  she 
was  led  into  the  presence  of  the  assembled  camp  members 
who  noted  that  her  manner  indicated  a  message  of  portent. 

Raquel  caught  her  by  the  hand  feverishly,  questioning 
silently. 

"  It  is  as  the  Sefiora  suspected,"  Faquita  exclaimed  breath- 
lessly. "  I  have  succeeded  in  learning  that  there  is  an  old 
man  confined  in  one  of  the  dungeons  who  seems  to  be 
Gonzalo  Alarcon's  special  victim.  Other  tenants  of  the 
prison  have  come  and  gone.  Death  by  guns  at  sunrise  has 
been  meted  to  some;  chained  like  criminals,  others  have 
been  sent  to  the  penal  colonies;  but  the  old  man  of  whom 
the  soldiers  talk  still  occupies  the  dungeon.  They  say  there 
have  been  times  when,  like  a  raving  maniac,  he  has  called 
for  his  daughter.  After  these  seasons  he  lies  for  weeks 
uttering  no  word  save  when  Alarcon  visits  him  and  taunts 
him  thus:  'You  crave  to  know  of  the  seilorita?  Does  it 
not  comfort  you  to  learn  she  is  in  my  tender  care  ?  No  ? 
Why  call  me  a  devil  ?  You  sold  her  to  the  old  Frenchman; 
I  rescued  her  from  him.  For  that  should  you  not  thank 
me  instead  of  curse  me  ?  You  owe  me  gratitude.  Some  day 
when  we  Spaniards  have  killed  all  these  rebels,  I  will  release 
you  and  let  you  see  for  yourself  how  happy  I  have  made 
her.  Que?  You  object  to  my  caresses  for  her?  Bueno ! 
She  shall  have  the  love  of  others  whe-n  I  have  wearied  of 
her!     Does  that  satisfy  you  ? '  " 

^'Madre  de  Dios  /"  sobbed  Raquel.  "Does  not  that  torture 
drive  him  mad  with  pain  ?  What  frightful  agony  of  mind  has 
been  his  !     There  is  no  Spanish  gun  that  can  keep  me  from 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


341 


reaching  and  freeing  him  nuw  that  I  know  where  he  is  !  My 
proud  father  in  chains — at  the  mercy  of  that — oh,  come  ! 
come  !"  she  implored  them.  "Let  us  go  !  How  can  I  wait 
an  instant?  To  think  he  has  suffered  thus  while  I  have 
found — happiness  !" 

Lithgow  placed  his  yearning  arm  about  her  tenderly,  vainly 
trying  to  soothe  her  distress. 

"Listen  !"  he  whispered.  "Faquita  has  not  told  all.  She 
says  it  will  be  impossible  for  us  to  rescue  him  now,  even 
though  we  know  where  to  strike.  The  town  is  too  well  forti- 
fied. We  must  wait  until  we — what  is  that,  Faquita?"  he 
demanded,  lifting  his  head  with  excitement  as  he  caught  her 
words. 

'■More  soldiers  have  come  in  from  Habana,  senor,"  Faquita 
was  relating,  "and  there  has  been  the  wildest  rejoicing  in  the 
cities.  They  say  an  American  battleship  has  been  blown  up 
by  Spanish  cleverness  in  Habana  harbor." 

"One  of  our  battleships  blown  up?"  echoed  Lithgow,  un- 
willing to  credit  his  ears. 

"Si,  sefior  ;  and  the  towns  are  all  tumult,  for  the  soldiers 
declare  the  'Yankee  pigs'  will  have  to  come  and  fight  now  or 
else  prove  themselves  to  be  what  the  Spaniards  always  have 
called  them — cowards.  You  should  hear  the  fellows  boast 
how  they  will  attack  America  and  teach  its  people  a  lesson." 

"Let  them  try  !"  Zunega  cried  contemptuously.  "They 
who  never  saw  a  town  larger  than  sleepy  Cadiz  would  drop 
dead  in  their  tracks  at  the  sight  of  throbbing  American 
cities." 

"What  was  the  name  of  the  battleship?"  demanded  Lith- 
gow an.xiously. 

"•The  Maine',  sefior;  and  the  soldiers  drink  to  the  death 
of  the  men  who  went  down  like  rats  in  a  trap,"  she  told  him. 

"Devils  !"  he  cried,  his  voice  ringing  with  all  the  righteous 
rage  evoked  by  an  inhuman  deed.  "And  they  call  that  civil- 
ized warfare,  as  they  call  the  starving  of  helpless  recoiuxn- 
trados  !  The  throats  that  drink  to  the  death  of  American 
sailors,  brought  to  watery  graves  by  Spanish  treachery,  •shall 
plead  for  pity  from  the  sword  revenge!  " 

"The  Seuora  de  Urcjuiza  bade  me  tell  you  that  the  hour 
for  attack  is  not  now,"  P"a(iuita cautioned.  "She  has  accurate 
information  that  America  is  rising  in  arms.  War  is  to  be 
declared  !     Cuba  will  be  freed  by  American  soldiers." 

A  wild  slunit  went  up  from  the  insurgent  camp. 

"  liut  my  father  must  be  rescued  before  that  time,"  pro- 


342 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


tested  Raquel.  "The  Spaniards  will  put  him  to  death  before 
they  will  give  him  up  to  victors." 

"Leave  that  to  the  Seuora  de  Urquiza,"  advised  Faquita. 
"At  the  present  moment,  we  would  meet  with  defeat.  Every- 
thing we  seek  would  be  lost.  Your  father  might  be  conveyed 
to  another  prison — possibly  the  Morro.  Remember,  it  is  said 
those  dungeons  connect  with  the  sea.  They  will  be  flooded 
and  all  secrets  washed  away  before  Havana  is  captured." 

"Faquita  is  right,"  decided  the  men.  "Every  plan  must 
be  perfectly  made  and  magnificently  carried  into  execution. 
It  is  not  the  hour  for  haste." 

"The  Senora  de  Urquiza  is  in  communication  with  both 
sides,  you  know,"  continued  Faquita.  "She  is  endeavoring 
to  secure  the  co-operation  of  our  strongest  forces,  for  the 
armory  must  be  taken.  They  must  be  prevented  from  firing 
it.  We  need  its  contents.  She  is  petitioning  that  Senor 
Heredia  may  be  sent  up  from  the  south  provinces  to  give 
you  aid." 

"Senor  Heredia?  "  repeated  Raquel  with  interest. 

"Si,  Seiior  Heredia,"  replied  Faquita.  "He  had  vast 
interests  in  the  asphaltum  mines  near  here  ;  but  he  left  every- 
thing and  joined  Gomez." 

"It  is  he  whom  Pepita  has  loved  so  long,"  murmured 
Raquel  thoughtfully.  "It  is  to  be  near  and  aid  him  that  she 
shuts  herself  thus  away  in  the  interior  —  and  he  dreams 
it  not." 

"  Manuel  Heredia  has  a  strong  force,"  commented  Zunega 
gladly.  "  It  is  well  equipped  and  absolutely  fearless.  It  is 
said  he  drilled  his  employes  for  months  in  secret  before  they 
took  to  the  field.  He  has  been  a  powerful  factor  in  this 
rebellion.  I  understand  now  the  reason.  He  has  had  the 
quick  wits  of  Pepita  de  Urquiza  to  supplement  his  own.  With 
his  aid  I  stand  ready  to  meet  any  number  of  Spaniards.  And 
— if  the  Americans  come — long  will  live  free  Cuba  !  " 

"Viva  Cuba  Libre!"  rose  the  strong  and  faithful  cry, 
piercing  the  heavy  canopy  of  forest  foliage  which  hid  from 
them  the  magnificent  constellations  of  the  heavens.  Through 
the  night  drifted  the  prayer  of  hope  on  the  winds  that  blew 
from  the  Caribbean — "Viva  Cuba  Libre  I  " 

And  from  coast  to  coast  of  the  great  land  to  the  north  that 
same  prayer  even  then  was  thrilling,  while  yet  the  strong 
heart  of  the  nation  quivered  beneath  the  shock  which  had 
come  with  the  loss  of  the  Maine  and  its  men. 

Unable  to  make  even  one  struggle  for  life,  two  hundred 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  t^^t^ 

and  sixty-six  seamen  on  a  peaceful  mission  sank  to  a  horrible 
death  in  the  night  waters  of  Havana  harbor ! 

And  a  nation  of  seventy  millions  leaped  with  desire  to 
avenge  its  drowned  dead,  and  worshiped  them  as  heroes. 
Long-curbed  sympathies  slipi>ed  from  leash.  The  incredible 
tales  of  Spain's  uncivilized  war  methods  had  received  over- 
whelming confirmation.  Bugle  calls  rang  clear  throughout 
the  Union.  The  blood  of  the  busy  North  and  the  patriotic 
South  stung  with  fever  to  follow  the  flag  and  light  side  by  side 
beneath  it  for  the  liberty  it  symbolized.  An  enormous  army 
sprung  into  being  and  poured  itself  upon  the  historic  battle- 
fields of  Virginia  and  Tennessee,  ready  to  be  sent  to  aid  those 
who  had  fought  a  tyrant  so  long  and  so  well. 

And  America  voted  millions  for  war  and  calmly  pursued 
her  wonted  occupations,  while  through  her  streets  sounded  the 
inspiring  music  of  the  fife  and  drum  and  the  tramp  of 
marching  feet  eagerly  rushing  to  the  first  war  ever  begun  for 
unselfish  love  of  humanity. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

Beatrice  read  the  war  news  as  she  took  her  morning 
coffee.  She  was  heavy-eyed.  There  had  been  the  sound  of 
weeping  through  the  city  by  night.  Tears  which  had  been 
bravely  controlled  when  the  gallant  naval  reserves  responded 
to  the  call  had  had  their  bitter  way  when  darkness  came  to 
hide  them.  The  sons  and  brothers  of  many  of  Beatrice's 
friends  had  gone  to  the  front  and  Beatrice  had  sorrowed  with 
them. 

"I  smiled  and  cheered  to  the  last,"  she  told  her  mother, 
"but  I  could  not  keep  back  the  tears.  I  knew  that  I  looked 
for  the  last  time  into  some  of  their  faces.  Teddy  .Simonds 
tore  off  his  tie  and  thrust  his  arm  from  the  car  window  to 
throw  it  to  me  with  a  shout  of  farewell.  The  little  silk  knot 
fell  and  was  trampled  under  foot.  See  how  crushed  ami 
soiled  it  is.  But  1  rescued  it  and  shall  lay  it  away  so  ten- 
derly." 

"Dear  boy  !  It  seems  wicked  that  he  must  go  !"  sighed 
Mrs.  Warrington.  "His  mother  is  prostrated.  He  is  all  she 
has." 

Both  were  silent  for  a  time,  then  Beatrice  added: 

'*I  was  wild  to  go  with  them.     I  told    Teddy  that  I  would 


344  ^   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

go  and  nurse  him  if  anything  happened.  I  don't  see  how  j'ou 
lived  through  the  civil  war,  mother.  The  suspense  we  endure 
now  seems  awful ;  but  what  must  have  been  four  years  of  it  ?" 

"Words  never  can  picture  what  the  women  of  the  North 
and  the  South  passed  through  during  the  war,"  said  Mrs.  War- 
rington slowly.  "There  are  those  among  us  who  never  can 
speak  of  that  time  save  with  hushed  voice." 

The  maid  brought  in  the  early  mail.  At  sight  of  one 
envelope  Beatrice  gave  an  exclamation  of  surprise. 

"A  letter  from  Jamaica — in  a  strange — no,  it  is  directed  in 
Lithgow's  fashion  ;  but — so  unlike  his  usual  bold  hand.  Can 
he  have  been  ill  ?" 

She  tore  open  the  missive  nervously,  scanning  the  closely 
written  pages  rapidly,  seeking  that  which  would  explain. 

"Lithgow  has  been  wounded  !"  she  cried.  "He  has  been 
ill,  very  ill,  for  a  long  time.  This  is  a  sort  of  record  which 
seems  to  have  been  kept  by — the  girl  of  whom  they  talked — 
Raquel.     She  has  nursed  him  back  to  safety." 

Mrs.  Warrington  leaned  forward  with  anxiety  on  her  sweet 
countenance. 

"Lithgow  wounded  !"  she  echoed,  watching  her  daughter 
narrowly.  "We  have  much  to  thank  the  girl  for  if  she  has 
won  him  back  to  health." 

Beatrice  essayed  to  read  aloud  the  disconnected  diary,  but 
at  every  mention  of  Zufiega's  name  she  hesitated  almost  im- 
perceptibly, seeming  to  dwell  with  intense  interest  on  the 
portions  relating  to  his  achievements. 

Suddenly  she  dropped  the  sheets  and  covered  her  face  with 
her  hands. 

Mystified  and  filled  with  consternation  at  this  exhibition  of 
feeling,  Mrs.  Warrington  sat  motionless  and  undecided. 
Finally  she  arose  and  placed  her  arms  about  Beatrice  with  the 
tender,  inquisitive  touch  of  sympathetic  motherhood. 

"Tell  me,  dear,  what  is  it  ?"  she  whispered.  "Can  I  help 
you  ?" 

"Oh,  mother  !"  Beatrice  answered,  her  whole  form  quiver- 
ing with  the  stress  of  emotion.  "They  love  each  other. 
They  have  been  married." 

"Who  have  been  married  ?"  demanded  Mrs.  Warrington 
puzzledly. 

"Who?     Raquel  and — Lithgow  !"  explained  Beatrice. 

"My  poor  child  !  "  cried  the  mother  pityingly. 

Beatrice  lifted  her  face  with  wonderment. 

"  Poor  ? "  she  echoed.     "  Oh,  you  do  not  understand." 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


345 


"Yes,  I  do,"  murmured  Mrs.  Warrington,  shaking  lier  head 
sadly.  "But  I  must  confess  tliat  you  ahnost  deserve  it,  Pea- 
trice.  You  drove  Lithgow  from  you;  you  treated  him  in  care- 
less fashion.  I  had  hoped  to — to  see  you  his  wife — sometime. 
Now,  I  can  only  be  sorry  for  you." 

Beatrice  sprung  away  from  the  consoling  embrace  and 
regarded  her  mother  with  eyes  into  which  all  the  illumination 
of  love  had  leaped. 

"No,  you  do  not  understand,"  she  reiterated  with  a  laugh 
in  which  was  mingled  a  tinge  of  maidenly  shame  that  she 
must  make  audible  confession.  "  Do  you  fail  to  perceive  that 
I  rejoice?  If  Raquel  is  the  wife  of  Lithgow — Zuuega  must 
love  elsewhere." 

"  Zuuega  !  "  exclaimed  Mrs.  Warrington. 

•'  Yes,  Zufiega;  for  it  is  he  whom  I  love!  "  declared  Beatrice 
proudly.  She  drew  herself  up  to  her  full  height,  and,  with 
(jueenly  daring,  awaited  the  effect  of  her  startling  announce- 
ment. 

"Beatrice!  have  you  lost  your  womanliness?"  fairly 
sobbed  Mrs.  Warrington.     "How  can  you " 

"  I  have  lost  nothing,"  interrupted  Beatrice  softly.  "  I  have 
discovered  myself  and  a  comprehension  of  my  nature's  needs. 
I  know  now  that  I  loved  him  from  the  first.  I  did  not  know 
what  strange  thing  it  was  which  had  come  and  nestled  in  my 
heart.  Lithgow  espied  it  and  called  it  by  name.  He  told  me 
that  I  loved.  Since  then — I  have  suffered.  When  we  heard 
that  M.  Theuriet  was  dead,  I  feared  Zuuega  would  marry 
her;  but  I  concealed  my  pain  as  women  always  must,  though 
hearts  break." 

"Surely  you  do  not  mean  to  do  any  rash,  unfeminine 
thing!  "  expostulated  the  mother. 

"No,  I  could  not,"  returned  Beatrice  comfortingly.  "I 
am  your  daughter;  that  should  be  sufficient  guarantee.  1  will 
wait.     It  is  all  that  a  woman  can  do." 

"Whoever  would  dream  this  of  you!"  murmured  Mrs. 
^Varrington  with  incredulity  in  her  tones.  "You  who  have 
been  so  cold,  so  unimpressionable.     You  seem  transformed." 

"  I  am,"  asserted  the  girl  with  a  deep  breath.  "  I  don't 
know  why  it  does  not  seem  unmaidenly  to  say  it,  but  it  does 
not.  However,  you  alone  will  know.  Even  he  shall  not — 
ever.  I  turned  the  key  for  an  instant,  and  let  you  look  into 
the  secret  place  of  my  soul.  I  now  turn  back  the  key,  and — 
we  will  forget." 

"  No,  we  never  will  forget,  dearest,"  replied  her  mother. 


346  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"  You  have  suffered  alone,  but  this  glimpse  of  your  struggle 
has  brought  us  very  close.  I — I  saw  in  you,  at  that  moment, 
the  exact  semblance  of  your  father.  Not  for  the  world  would 
I  shut  you  from  a  happiness  as  great  as  was  my  own  with 
him." 

"Then  you  will  not  oppose  me  if  I  wish  to  join  Mrs. 
Bucklain  in  her  work  of  caring  and  providing  for  the 
soldiers?"  Beatrice  pleaded,  kneeling  down  impulsively  at 
her  mother's  feet.  "  She  is  on  the  point  now  of  leaving  for 
Tampa.  If  the  army  moves  into  Cuba,  she  and  her  aids  are 
to  go." 

"I  not  only  will  not  oppose  you,  but  I  will  accompany 
you,"  decided  Mrs.  Warrington.  "You  are  not  the  sole 
individual  who  yearns  to  be  of  service  in  this  hour." 

Calm,  cool  Beatrice  threw  her  arms  about  her  mother 
enthusiastically. 

"  Three  cheers  for  '  The  Red,  White,  and  Blue  '!  "  she  cried 
delightedly.  "We  will  go  to  the  front!  We  will  fight  if 
need  be — and  we  will  pray  that  those  we  love  may  be  kept 
safe  from  harm." 

And  those  for  whom  she  prayed  were  bending  every 
energy  toward  the  rescue  they  had  planned.  But  days  and 
weeks  crept  by  before  the  hour  arrived  when  they  could 
make  the  contemplated  assault  upon  the  city. 

The  rainy  season  begun.  The  American  warships  were 
before  Santiago.  The  hearts  of  the  patriots  beat  high  with 
hope.  That  for  which  Cuba  had  fought  and  bled  seemed 
within    reach  at  last. 

The  Cubans  were  closing  in  upon  the  southern  strong- 
hold to  aid  the  American  troops  there  landed.  But  Zuiiega's 
force  and  that  of  Manuel  Heredia  tarried  in  the  vicinity  of 
San  Juan  to  co-operate  with  the  Americans  who  had  come 
in  on  the  north  coast  escorting  an  expedition  which  had 
been  safely  guided  into  the  mountains  to  those  most  in  need 
of  ammunition. 

On  a  night  when  heavy  clouds  obscured  the  moon,  the 
attacking  forces  moved  in  upon  the  city  from  four  points. 
Manuel  Heredia  from  the  west  with  his  trained  blacks; 
Zunega  from  the  east  with  Raquel  by  Lithgow's  side  riding 
eagerly  to  the  battle  which  was  meant  to  give  once  more 
to  her  father  the  sunshine  of  liberty.  Up  from  the  south 
stole  a  stalwart  band  of  Cubans,  absenting  themselves  tem- 
porarily from    the   siege   against   Santiago.      And   from   the 


A    DAUGHTER  OF  CUBA. 


347 


north,  a  company  of  heroic  men  marching  in  order  under  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  ! 

Soaked  to  the  skin  by  the  drenching  rain  which  had  been 
falling  for  hours,  the  American  soldiers  followed  their  guides 
with  an  ardor  that  did  not  diminish.  They  had  brought  to 
the  men  from  the  field  fresh  details  of  the  victory  at  iNIanila 
and  the  departure  of  troops  for  the  l'hilii')pines.  And  the 
wine  of  pure  patriotism  stung  in  their  blood  and  made  strong 
the  cry:     "  Remember  the  Maine  !  " 

Through  the  thick  pall  of  the  darkness  shot  vivid  flames 
of  venomous  lightning.  Forked  tongues  of  fire  appeared  to 
run  down  the  mountain  slojies.  Nature  herself  seemed 
desirous  of  protecting  them;  for  they  were  able  to  creep 
stealthily  upon  the  town  under  cover  of  constant  cannon- 
ading of  heaven's  artillery.  The  furious  storm  had  made  the 
Spaniards  less  alert.  Some  had  forsaken  their  posts.  Meet- 
ing less  resistance  than  they  had  expected,  the  Cubans  and 
Americans  burst  in  on  the  city  like  a  West  Indian  tornado, 
traveling  hand  in  hand  with  the  phantom  of  Night. 

Startled  from  sleep,  San  Juan  leaped  to  defend  itself. 
Its  guns  roared  forth  unavailingly.  The  foe  already  was 
within,  warring  hand  to  hand  in  an  effort  to  capture  the 
arsenal. 

Wild  and  desperate  was  the  battle  in  the  dense  gloom. 
The  Spaniards,  bewildered  by  the  fierceness  of  what  appeared 
to  be  a  vast  horde  of  demons  rending  the  night  air  with 
unfamiliar  war-cries,  fought  with  what  spirit  was  theirs;  but 
it  counted  for  little  against  the  impetuous  rush  and  daring 
of  the  men  they  encountered. 

The  first  intimation  that  they  were  contending  with  men 
from  the  north  came  in  a  shout  which  rose  above  the  din 
of  battle;  *'  Death  to  the  Americanos  !  "  It  woke  a  savage 
fury  that  prolonged  the  conflict  till  day. 

The  gray  tints  of  the  dawn  revealed  that  the  streets  were 
filled  with  the  wounded  and  dead.  The  stones  were  red  with 
blood.  The  Spanish  had  been  overpowered  by  the  united 
forces  which  sought  to  avenge  not  the  heroes  of  the  Maine  so 
much  as  the  thousands  of  starved  babes  and  mothers  whose 
lives  were  offered  up  for  Cuba  as  certainly  as  if  they  had  died 
with  sword  in  hand. 

Racjuel  had  been  in  the  thick  of  the  fray,  despite  Lithgow's 
entreaties.  The  thought  of  her  father  urged  her  on  through 
the  frightful  scene.  She  was  seeking  Gonzalo  Alarcon.  In 
the  weird  light  of  daybreak,  she  found  herself  face  to  face 
with  him. 


348  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"Gonzalo  Alarcon,  you  are  my  prisoner  !"  she  shouted  with 
triumph. 

Under  the  accusing  hatred  of  her  beautiful  eyes,  the  man 
of  many  crimes  cowered  for  the  first  time  in  his  daring  life. 

"You,  senorita?"  he  exclaimed  incredulously. 

"Yes;  it  is  I,  come  to  avenge  my  father  !"  she  answered,  all 
the  anguish  of  her  heart  breaking  irresistibly  through  her 
voice.  "Take  him  to  the  dungeon  !"  she  ordered  her  men. 
"His  own  hands  shall  unlock  the  chains  which  bind  Gilbert 
Palgrave." 

Alarcon  became  dogged  and  defiant. 

"You  may  kill  me,  but  you  never  can  make  me  free  him," 
he  swore  savagely. 

An  unmistakable  murmur  of  contempt  arose  from  his  own 
soldiers  as  well  as  from  the  victorious  men.  A  bold  fellow 
cried  from  among  the  ranks  of  prisoners  : 

"Senorita,  if  he  who  lies  in  the  deep  dungeon,  chained  to 
the  south  wall,  be  your  father,  I  can  tell  you  how  to  reach 
him.  The  key  to  his  chains  is  in  the  possession  of  the  com- 
mandante." 

"Release  him  who  has  spoken  !"  ordered  Zufiega. 

The  soldier  stood  forth,  scornfully  meeting  Alarcon's  ven- 
omous gaze. 

"Though  he  has  been  appointed  our  superior,  we  bear  him 
no  love,"  declared  the  Spaniard  fearlessly.  "If  you  shoot  him. 
let  it  be  as  he  has  shot  our  prisoners — at  sunrise — in  the  back. 
If  you  chain  him,  I  myself  will  come,  if  I  may,  and  return  lo 
him  the  kicks  he  has  given  dying  men,  hoping  thus  to  con- 
vince us  of  his  fealty  to  the  mother  land.  All  of  us  are 
Spaniards,  senorita,  and  are  proud  so  to  be,  but  not  all  of  us 
are  traitorous  devils !  And  we  have  learned  some  lessons  in 
this  island: — its  rebels  die  like  heroes." 

A  tremendous  cheer  burst  from  the  Cuban  and  American 
throats,  and  to  this  tribute  from  soldier  to  soldier  the  Spanish 
prisoners  of  war  added  their  echo. 

Quivering  with  hot  but  impotent  rage,  Alarcon  stared  fasci- 
natedly at  the  imposing  form  of  Zufiega.  He  recognized 
him,  yet  was  unwilling  to  believe  his  eyes.  Here,  in  the 
attitude  of  the  conqueror,  v/as  the  youth  who  nobly  had 
robbed  him  of  both  ransom  and  Raquel.  Awful  had  been  the 
oaths  he  had  taken  in  revenge  ;  now,  not  only  was  he  power- 
less to  fulfill  them,  but  he  found  himself  at  the  mercy  of  the 
man  he  had  sworn  to  kill. 

^'Buenos  dias,  Alarcon,"  saluted  Zufiega  with  mock  defer- 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


349 


ence.  "Is  not  he  a  wise  man  who  prefers  death  to  dishonor  ? 
'i"o  be  hung  as  a  brigand  is  one  death  to  avoid — if  one  can  ; 
to  be  hung  as  a  traitor  is  a  less  desirable  ending.  Vour  fate 
I  place  in  Faquita's  hands.  I  have  promised  it  iier  for  the 
work  she  has  done  for  the  cause  of  Free  Cuba." 

"Faquita  !"  foamed  Alarcon  fiercely.     I  would " 

"Ah,  you  would  have  stabbed  me  in  your  anger,"  declared 
Faquita,  as  she  stepped  aggravatingly  before  him.  "  Jiut  all 
you  have  been  able  to  do  was  to  make  plans  that  I  joyfully 
defeated.  When  you  became  a  traitor  1  became  a  patriot.  In 
memory  of  other  days,  I  petitioned  Zuucga  to  save  your  life  ; 
but  now — it  has  no  value  for  me." 

She  turned  on  her  heel  with  affected  indifference,  but 
Raquel  saw  that  her  eyes  were  full  of  bitter  tears. 

"Take  him  to  the  dungeon  !  "  ordered  Zinlega. 

The  heavily  barred  doors  were  swung  wide  that  those  who 
crouched  within  might  come  forth.  But  such  action  was 
beyond  their  powers.  Strong  arms  would  be  needed  to  carry 
them  to  the  light  and  the  air  of  freedom. 

The  stench  of  the  underground  prison  was  so  foul  that  the 
liberating  party  staggered  back,  choked  by  its  poison. 

There  was  a  period  during  which  strenuous  efforts  were 
made  to  keep  Raquel  from  entering. 

"  Surely  I  can  live  for  a  moment  where  he  has  lived  for 
months  !  "  she  cried  passionately.  "  I  will  enter.  Death  could 
not  deter  me  from  reaching  him  now  !  " 

But  her  face  was  white  with  grief,  and  her  heart  stood  still. 

"  Papa  '  Papa  !  "  she  called  through  the  fetid  atmosphere. 
"  It  is  I — Raquel.     I  have  come  to  save  you  !  " 

A  low  moan  of  agony  came  through  the  gloom. 

"  Raquel  !  "  it  cried  with  unutterable  pathos.  "  Is  this  his 
last  stab  ?  Tired  of  you,  my  poor  darling,  he  brings  you  here 
to  share  this  awful  hole  I  If  he  would  kill  us  both,  it  would 
be  merciful." 

Through  the  breast  of  every  listener  the  wail  of  paternal 
grief  penetrated  like  a  knife.  Each  shivered  in  the  presence 
of  this  frightful  sorrow  which  Alarcon's  heartlessness  had 
caused. 

"I  have  not  come  to  share  your  dungeon,  but  to  free 
you  from  its  chains,"  triumphantly  rang  Racjuel's  tones. 
"The  Americanos  have  landed  in  Cuba  I  A\'e  have  taken 
the  town;  the  Spaniards  are  our  prisoners.  Alarcon  himself 
shall  loosen  your   irons." 

"Let  not  that — devil — come  near  me  !  "  pleaded  the  plain- 
tive voice  of  the  captive.  * 


3SO  A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 

"He  shall  not  touch  you!"  declared  Lithgow  vehemently. 
"No  hands  but  those  of  love  shall  give  you  liberty!" 

With  Lithgow  at  her  left  and  the  Spanish  soldier  acting 
as  guide  on  the  right,  Raquel  found  her  way  through  the 
indescribable  horrors  of  the  place  to  the  side  of  her  father. 

Chained  to  the  floor,  he  dazedly  received  the  emancipa- 
tion which  came  in  the  clasp  of  his  daughter's  arms,  tlje 
tearful  pressure  of  her  face. 

"Since  the  moment  you  were  carried  from  me  I  have 
worked  with  this  hope,"  she  sobbed.  "Alone  I  could  never 
have  accomplished  it;  but  Lithgow  and  Zufiega  have  done 
what  I  could  not." 

"Lithgow  and  Zufiega?"  he  repeated.  "Then — what 
Alarcon  told  me  was — not  true?  Oh,  thank  God!  I  thought 
you  were — in  his  power;  and  I  have  died  a  thousand  deaths 
because  of  your  unhappy  fate." 

"Alarcon  has  never  .<een  me  since  the  attack,"  she  ex- 
plained as  she  caressed  him.  "But  I  have  fought  in  the 
field  and  have  been  under  the  protection  of — my  husband, 
Lithgow." 

"Lithgow?"  he  questioned  as,  weak  and  trembling  with 
excitement,  he  folded  her  in  arms  which  vainly  had  ached 
for  revenge.     "  I  can  not  comprehend." 

"But  years  lie  ahead  of  us  in  which  we  will  relate  all  that 
has  happened,"  prophesied  Lithgow  hopefully.  "Years  dur- 
ing which  Cuba  will  show  the  world  she  is  capable  of  self- 
government." 

Gonzalo  Alarcon.  in  the  grasp  of  his  jailers,  turned  his 
head  away  as  the  emaciated  form  of  his  victim  was  borne 
past  him  in  the  American's  pitying  arms.  All  the  remorse 
and  physical  agony  to  which  he  might  be  doomed  could  not 
equal  the  acute  shame  of  that  moment  when  he  encountered 
Raquel's  vengeful  eyes  for  the  last  time. 

Then,  shorn  of  his  uniform,  he  was  dragged  through  the 
filth  of  the  dungeon  to  the  spot  where  the  irons  lay  waiting. 

The  hands  that  locked  them  on  him  were  Zufiega's. 

"When  Cuba  is  free.  General  Gomez  himself  shall  decide 
the  measure  of  your  punishment,"  said  the  conqueror.  "Until 
then — I  will  wear  the  key  to  your  chains.  A  quick  death 
would  be  too  merciful;  it  shall  be  years  in  coming  if  I  have 
my  way." 

Without  the  prison,  Manuel  Heredia  stood  before  Pepita 
de  Urquiza. 

"  It  will  be  impossible  for  you  to  remain  here,  Senora," 


A    DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


351 


he  was  saying.  "After  conveying  the  ammunition  from  the 
arsenal  into  the  hands  of  those  who  stand  waiting,  we  mean 
to  destroy  the  fortifications  and  return  to  our  posts.  Where 
go  you  next  ? " 

"Toward  Santiago;  my  work  is  finished  here.  They  will 
need  nurses  in  the  field." 

"  You  shall  not  venture  there!"  he  declared.  "You — I — 
I  will  not  permit  you  to  imperil  yourself  further.  You  have 
done  so  too  long." 

"  But  it  is  not  your  right  to  dictate,"  she  said  softly. 

"  Make  it  my  right !  "  he  cried  daringly.  "  1  have  loved 
you  for  years — hopelessly,  it  seemed.  Be  kind  to  me  nuw  ! 
Here — to-night — let  the  padre  speak  his  blessing  above  us. 
Pepita,  I  love  you  !     Be  my  wife.?" 

"  But  the  wife  of  Manuel  Heredia  must  work  no  less  for 
Cuba,"  stipulated  Pepita,  after  a  time.  "If  my  services  as  a 
spy  are  no  longer  required,  I  insist  on  being  allowed  to  nur^e 
our  heroes.     Let  me  go  with  you  to  Santiago." 

"  It  shall  be  so,"  he  agreed.  "There  will  be  American 
heroes  to  nurse  as  well  as  Cubans." 

Pepita's  eyes  dimmed  with  quick  sympathy. 

"Ah,  the  mother  hearts  of  America  !  "  she  sighed.  "  They 
are  giving  their  dearest  that  we  may  gain  libcriy.  Was  ever 
such  love  shown  !  " 

"It  marks  an  era!"  said  Manuel  Heredia  solemnly. 
"  Never  before  in  the  history  of  the  world  has  there  been  so 
vicarious  an  offering  on  the  altar  of  Freedom." 

And  the  fierce  battles  which  followed  proved  the  verity  of 
Heredia's  words,  as  the  Americans  fought  to  establish  jjeace 
and  liberty  in  the  war-scarred  island. 

After  conveying  the  feeble  frame  of  Gilbert  Palgrave  to  a 
hospital  retreat  which  would  be  safe  from  Spanish  butchery, 
both  the  Cuban  and  American  soldiers  moved  southward 
rapidly  to  reinforce  the  troops  landing  near  Santiago  de  Cuba. 

And  they  were  none  too  soon. 

The  American  marines  at  Guantanamo  had  defended 
valiantly  the  Stars  and  Stripes  which  they  Jiad  planted;  and 
the  precious  blood  of  heroes  had  made  sacred  to  American 
hearts  the  soil  of  Cuba.  To  supplement  the  little  invading 
party  which  had  held  its  own  so  well,  a  vanguard  of  three 
thousand  of  General  Shafter's  army  was  put  ashore  at 
Baiquiri.  These  soldiers  found  themselves  reinforced  by  a 
thousand  Cubans  who  seemed  to  spring  out  (jf  the  ground  at 
the  proper  moment  to  attack  the  Spaniards.      Among  these 


352 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA. 


Cubans  were  Zufiega,  Lithgow,  and  Manuel  Heredia,  their 
knowledge  of  English  being  scarcely  less  valuable  than  their 
familiarity  with  the  forest  Superb  was  the  fervor  with  which 
their  forces  led  the  way,  receiving  the  deadliest  fire  from  the 
ambushed  Spaniards.  Cuban  heroism  won  bitter  reward,  for 
over  the  dead  and  dying  bodies  of  those  who  struggled  for 
freedom,  the  American  troops  were  forced  to  pass:  as,  mad- 
dened by  this  awful  slaughter,  they  pushed  forward  steadily, 
relentlessly,  in  the  face  of  a  storm  of  bullets  that  mutilated 
like  knives  and  mowed  down  as  a  blast  from  hell. 

Suffocating  with  the  terrible  heat  of  the  tropical  sun,  their 
flesh  torn  by  the  thorns  of  the  dense  underbrush,  their 
tongues  swollen  and  parched  with  thirst,  the  brave  boys  of 
the  Northland  rushed  on.  Those  who  fell  wounded  to  the 
death  urged  with  their  last  breath  their  comrades  forward  to 
achieve  the  lofty  purpose  for  which  they  had  been  sent.  And 
nothing  but  this — the  righting  of  grievous  wrongs — could 
have  spurred  men  to  win  what  they  won  that  day. 

When  the  Spanish  had  abandoned  their  position,  retreating 
ignominiously  before  the  advancing  soldiers,  who  fought  not 
with  Apache  methods  but  according  to  military  rule,  those 
able  to  do  so  immediately  sought  out  the  wounded  and 
dead. 

Almost  the  first  face  which  Lithgow  turned  up  compas- 
sionately was  that  of  one  of  his  own  friends,  a  New  Yorker, 
a  millionaire  youth  whose  movements  had  been  of  interest  to 
two  continents.  Inexpressibly  pained  he  staggered  backward, 
but  it  was  no  moment  for  woe.  He  was  destined  to  find 
many  he  knew  among  these  gallant  "  rough  riders"  recruited 
from  the  first  and  wealthiest  families  of  America.  Pale  and 
stern,  he  grew  to  rejoice  that  their  blood  had  been  shed  in  so 
noble  a  cause,  and  he  thrilled  with  the  thought  that  he  looked 
upon  the  faces  of  those  who  would  go  down  canonized  in 
American  history,  but  he  sensed  the  horrible  meaning  of  war 
as  he  had  not  been  able  to  do  before. 

There  were  cases  where  his  services  were  of  value,  but  it 
seemed  to  him  that  where  he  loved  most,  hope  was  vain. 
All  he  could  do  was  to  cover  them  mercifully  from  the  burn- 
ing rays  of  the  pitiless  sun;  and,  later,  to  lay  them  sorrowfully 
to  rest  beneath  Mother  Earth. 

It  was  when  he  was  thus  engaged  that  two  soldiers  ap- 
proached with  a  wounded  Cuban. 

Lithgow  utterea  a  cry  of  grief: 

"  Zufiega  !  " 


A   DAUGHTER   OF  CUBA.  353 

But  Zunega  heard  no  voice.  He  had  been  among  those 
who  first  fell,  and  he  had  lain  long  in  the  scorching  sun. 

Trembling  with  fear  lest  it  be  too  late,  LithgOw  summoned 
aid,  and,  as  soon  as  was  practicable,  had  him  removed  to  the 
hospital  ship,  and  from  there  the  son  of  two  nations  was 
taken  to  Guantanamo,  where  the  Red  Cross  Society  had  been 
established.  That  he  was  being  sent  into  the  hands  of 
Beatrice  Warrington,  Lithgow  little  dreamed.     But  it  was  so. 

And  when  the  hour  came  that  Zufiega  looked  out  upon 
the  world  again  and  knew  her,  he  tried  to  place  his  remaining 
hand  over  on  her  tender  fingers  which  had  nursed  him  back 
to  life. 

'"Could  you  care  for  one — so  changed  ? '"  he  whispered. 

And  Beatrice  adjusted  the  bandages  on  the  torn  right 
shoulder  and  answered  softly: 

"To  me,  you  are  not  changed.  You  have  gained,  not  lost. 
You  are  one  of  Cuba's  heroes,  and — though  you  never  again 
can  carry  a  gun  or  fight  for  her — she  will  need  such  as  you 
to  guide  and  govern  her  when  she  is  free." 

"And  will  you  be — my  right  arm  ? "  he  asked  wistfully. 

And  there  was  no  need  for  reply. 

Though  her  fair  face  flushed,  Beatrice  met  his  appealing 
eyes  with  love  voiced  in  her  own;  then,  she  bent  her  golden 
head  swiftly  and  touched  her  pure  lips  to  his  brow. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N  C.  AT  CHAPEL  H'l  L 


